CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 32

Honolulu, Hawaii

                 , 2009

RE:    H.B. No. 1611

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 2

       C.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Sir and Madam:

     Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the House of Representatives to the amendments proposed by the Senate in H.B. No. 1611, H.D. 2, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LABELING OF MEAT AND FISH PRODUCTS,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

     The purpose of this measure is to improve food safety by:

(1)  Requiring accurate labeling of meat and fish products that have been gas-treated to enhance product color or to approximate the appearance of freshness; and

(2)  Requiring the Department of Agriculture to post notice of this labeling requirement on its website.

     Your Committee on Conference has amended this bill by:

(1)  Deleting provisions establishing a violation of labeling requirements as a misdemeanor punishable by a fine and imprisonment;

(2)  Establishing a fine for violation of labeling requirements of:

(A)  $1,000 for an initial violation; and

(B)  $2,000 for each subsequent violation;

and

(3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive changes for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1611, H.D. 2, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1611, H.D. 2, S.D. 2, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

____________________________ CLAYTON HEE, Chair	____________________________ RYAN I. YAMANE, Co-Chair
____________________________ ROSALYN H. BAKER, Co-Chair	____________________________ ROBERT N. HERKES, Co-Chair
	____________________________ JON RIKI KARAMATSU, Co-Chair