STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1446

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 34

       S.D. 2

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 34, S.D. 1, entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING STUDIES RELATING TO THE RESEARCH OF ISSUES ARISING FROM THE POTENTIAL IMPLEMENTATION OF A GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS LABELING OR RIGHT-TO-KNOW REGIMEN,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request studies relating to the research of issues arising from the potential implementation of a genetically modified organism (GMO) labeling or right-to-know regimen.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from one concerned individual.

     Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Legislative Reference Bureau.

     Your Committee finds that the issue of labeling products that contain a GMO has garnered debate around the country, including Hawaii.  The two most common means for informing consumers whether a certain product contains a GMO is by placing a label on the product or requiring the producer to register the product with a state agency in an accessible online database, known as a right-to-know regimen.  Your Committee further finds that prior to implementing a GMO labeling or registration requirement or maintaining the status quo, the Legislature needs more information on the issue.  To this end, this measure requests certain entities to research and report to the Legislature on various issues relating to the potential implementation of a GMO labeling or right-to-know regimen, including:

     (1)  Establishment of an economic model and a study of economic impacts on consumers, the local agricultural industry, and the State's 2050 sustainability goals, by the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization;

     (2)  Examination of the practicability of implementing either regimen, including ease of enforcement and potential effects on 2050 sustainability goals, by the Department of Agriculture, in collaboration with the Departments of Health and Business, Economic Development, and Tourism;

     (3)  Details on the costs of implementation, including additional personnel requirements and any necessary changes to departmental processes or procedures, by the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, with the assistance of the Department of Agriculture;

     (4)  Analysis of peer reviewed literature and studies regarding the long-term safety of GMO crops grown in Hawaii and information on farming practices in Hawaii by the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources; and

     (5)  Copies of legislation adopted by, or bills or ordinances under consideration by, other state legislatures over the past three years that address GMO labeling, and the outcomes of such bills, by the Legislative Reference Bureau.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by specifying that the Legislative Reference Bureau is requested to research only state level legislation, to the extent available.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 34, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 34, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair