STAND. COM. REP. NO. 824

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 866

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 1

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 866, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to allow beekeepers to register certain information with the Department of Agriculture and to appropriate funds for an apiary program within the Department of Agriculture. 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture and the Kaua‘i Beekeepers Association.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Office of Information Practices.

     Your Committee finds that allowing beekeepers to register with the Department of Agriculture will help the Department to:

     (1)  Identify and locate beekeepers;

     (2)  Survey beekeepers to determine if any new pests or diseases have been introduced to Hawaii's bee colonies; and

     (3)  Provide services to beekeepers such as pest and disease diagnostics to ensure that Hawaii's beekeeping industry remains strong and vibrant.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of 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 H.B. No. 866, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 866, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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

____________________________

CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair