STAND. COM. REP. NO.  967-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   S.B. No. 2110

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred S.B. No. 2110, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE REGULATION OF PESTICIDES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate an unspecified amount of moneys for the Department of Agriculture to hire three pesticide inspectors, including fringe benefits.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Mayor of Kauai County, the Mayor of Maui County, four Kauai County Council Members, the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Planned Parenthood, the Pacific Alliance to Stop Slavery, the Kona Chapter of Hawaii Farmers Union United, Babes Against Biotech, and numerous individuals.  The Department of Agriculture and two individuals provided comments on the measure.

     Your Committee finds that many Hawaii residents are becoming increasingly concerned about pesticides.  Your Committee also finds that the State experienced a significant reduction in force from 2009 through 2010, which resulted in the elimination of a number of personnel positions needed to administer the Hawaii pesticides law.  Your Committee believes that by appropriating funds for the hiring of additional personnel, this measure will assist the Department of Agriculture in regulating the use of pesticides in accordance with the Hawaii pesticides law.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Providing that the moneys will be appropriated out of the general revenues of the State rather than the pesticide use revolving fund;

     (2)  Authorizing the Department of Agriculture to hire eight new positions rather than three; two for educational outreach and six to supplement the work of inspectors;

     (3)  Amending the purpose section by:

          (A)  Clarifying that the reduction in force occurred from 2009 through 2010;

          (B)  Deleting references to restricted use pesticides; and

          (C)  Adding language regarding integrated pest management; and

     (4)  Making technical nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of 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 S.B. No. 2110, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2110, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection.

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

____________________________

JESSICA WOOLEY, Chair