STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2697

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2804

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Agriculture and Hawaiian Affairs and Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 2804 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PRE-PACKAGED MEAT,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to amend the definition of "adulterated" to include pre-packaged meats which have been treated with gas or other technology to enhance their color only.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by The Hawaii Teamsters and Allied Workers, Local 996 and one individual.

     Your Committees find that pre-packaged meats treated with gas or other technology to enhance their color should be included within the definition of "adulterated" meat as this process may cause the meat to have a red color that can deceive consumers into thinking that the meat is fresher than it really is.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

     (1)  Amending the effective date to July 1, 2050; and

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

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Hawaiian Affairs and Health that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2804, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2804, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

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

____________________________ DAVID Y. IGE, Chair

____________________________ JILL TOKUDA, Chair