STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1479-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   S.B. No. 2584

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred S.B. No. 2584, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HONEY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to support the honey industry by statutorily recognizing honey as an agricultural commodity for purposes of the Grades and Standards Law.

     The Department of Agriculture and Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation supported the intent of this bill.  The Hawaii Beekeepers' Association submitted comments.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Having it take effect upon its approval; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2584, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2584, S.D. 2, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

____________________________

ROBERT N. HERKES, Chair