STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2789

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 2503

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 2503, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE ENVIRONMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to authorize an expansion of the permissible uses of the pesticide use revolving fund by removing the requirement that personnel costs from the fund be used only for employees in the Registration and Education section of the Pesticide Branch of the Department of Agriculture.

     Testimony in support of the measure was submitted by one state agency and one organization.  One organization supports the intent.  Written testimony presented to the Committee may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

     Compliance monitoring surveillance is an integral part of ensuring public safety and environmental protection relating to pesticide use.  Conducting actual use inspections of agricultural and non-agricultural entities and compliance monitoring inspections in the marketplace and at the ports of entry are key components for effectively preventing violations and post-use complaints.  Your Committee finds that authorizing the Department of Agriculture to use the pesticide use revolving fund to fund compliance monitoring personnel will provide the flexibility necessary to maintain services.  However, your Committee understands the concerns raised by the Hawaii Pest Control Association, that education for pesticide users and distributors is another integral component of preventing violations.  Thus, your Committee finds that this measure should be repealed in five years so that the funds may again be used to provide educational opportunities for pesticide users. 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Repealing the measure on June 30, 2015; and

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

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2503, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2503, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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

____________________________

CLAYTON HEE, Chair