STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2875

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 2100

       H.D. 2

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Education and Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 2100, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO BEES,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to support agricultural production by appropriating general fund monies to the University of Hawaii for bee hive research.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, University of Hawai‘i System, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, and one individual.

     Your Committees find that the small hive beetle has become a major pest of honey bee hives on the Island of Hawaii, resulting in significant bee hive loss.  Loss of bee hives is a threat to the agricultural economy on all islands because bees are necessary to pollinate many crops.  This measure will provide the University of Hawaii System with necessary funds to research bee hives statewide in hopes of deterring further damage.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Education and Agriculture that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2100, H.D. 2, and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Education and Agriculture,

____________________________ CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair

____________________________ JILL TOKUDA, Chair