STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2448

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2584

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Agriculture and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2584 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HONEY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to support and encourage further growth and productivity of Hawaii's agricultural industry by recognizing honey as an agricultural commodity.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Department of Agriculture, the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, the Hawai‘i Beekeepers' Association, the Hawai‘i Island Honey Company, and one private individual.

     Hawaii's honey bees are a critical part of the agricultural production chain and responsible for the pollination of many crops grown in the State.  Furthermore, local beekeepers produce one of the world's highest quality honeys.  Your Committee finds that recognizing honey as an agricultural commodity will provide the recognition and support needed to encourage and expand this industry.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Replacing the definition terms for "raw honey" and "unprocessed honey" with "raw unprocessed honey" for the purposes of consistency; and

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

     Your Committee notes that S.B. No. 2585 also relates to honey and requires grocers to list the country of origin of all honey sold, and establishes penalties for grocers who intentionally sell honey without ensuring that the product is not clearly labeled as to the country of origin.  Your Committee notes the concerns raised related to this measure and requests that the Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Attorney General consult with each to determine how grocers could appropriately be required to provide consumers with honey labeled with it country of origin.  If the Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Attorney General are able to offer amendments to the measure, your Committee recommends to the Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Housing that the contents of S.B. No. 2585 and any amendments be incorporated into this measure.

     Your Committee believes that this measure, as amended, fulfills the intent of this measure, which is to support and encourage further growth and productivity of Hawaii's agricultural industry.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture and Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2584, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2584, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Affordable Housing.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture and Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

JILL TOKUDA, Chair