STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1029

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

RE:   S.B. No. 1223

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred S.B. No. 1223, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HAWAII MADE PRODUCTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to protect consumers from false or misleading advertising and preserve the credibility of the "Made in Hawaii" labeling by:

     (1)  Prohibiting the use of the phrase "Made in Hawaii" as an advertising or media tool unless the item being advertised meets specific criteria allowing the use of the phrase; and

     (2)  Requiring the Department of Agriculture (DOA) to convene a working group of interested parties, including a specified list of entities, to identify issues relating to the Hawaii-made Products Law and propose workable solutions.

     Creations of Hawaii, Hawaii Food Industry Association, and two concerned individuals supported this bill.  DOA submitted comments. 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Narrowing the composition of the working group to those entities listed specifically in the bill and adding a representative from each county, appointed by the respective mayor of each county, to the working group;

     (2)  Clarifying that the working group identify labeling issues relating to the Hawaii-made Products Law; and

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

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1223, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1223, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture,

____________________________

CLIFT TSUJI, Chair