STAND. COM. REP. NO.  128

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   H.B. No. 154

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 154 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO INDUSTRIAL HEMP,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to authorize the Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture to establish an industrial hemp remediation pilot program, including the appropriation of funds necessary for the pilot program.

Pacific Biodiesel Technologies and several individuals testified in support of this measure.  The Department of Agriculture testified in support of the intent of this measure.  The Honolulu Police Department testified in opposition of this measure.  The Department of Public Safety provided comments on this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

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

     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. 154, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 154, 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,

____________________________

JESSICA WOOLEY, Chair