STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1205-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   S.B. No. 2175

      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. 2175, S.D. 2, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish a two-year industrial hemp remediation and biofuel crop research program within the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources.

     Testimony in support of the measure was submitted by the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering, Pacific Biodiesel Technologies, Hawaii Farmers Union United-Kona Chapter, Hawaii Standard and Green Futures, Maui Venture Consulting LLC, Moms on a Mission Hui, Vote Hemp, Artel, Inc., and forty-eight individuals.  Testimony in opposition was submitted by the Honolulu Police Department, Maui Police Department, and two individuals.  The University of Hawaii System submitted comments on the measure.

     Your Committee finds that industrial hemp has many beneficial uses, including removing pollutants from land through phytoremediation and as a biofuel source.  It is the intent of this Committee to establish the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources as the only entity authorized to grow and cultivate industrial hemp in accordance with the requirements established by the Federal Agricultural Act of 2014, without authorizing any individual, including those involved with the research program, to grow or cultivate marijuana as currently prohibited under existing law.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1)  Adding language providing that the research program shall include the authority to grow or cultivate industrial hemp in accordance with the requirements of section 7606 of the Federal Agricultural Act of 2014;

(2)  Specifying that the authority to grow industrial hemp in Hawaii shall only apply to the research program;

(3)  Requiring the research program to use only industrial hemp seed stock that is certified by the Department of Agriculture;

(4)  Requiring each person involved in the research program to obtain federal and state controlled substances registration;

(5)  Specifying that there shall be only one test site and that the test site shall comply with federal and state regulations;

(6)  Specifying that the immunity provided for growing industrial hemp as part of the research program shall not apply to individuals involved in the research program who are found to be growing or cultivating marijuana;

(7)  Requiring the Department of Agriculture to test and monitor the plants grown by the research program to ensure that there is no marijuana grown on the test site, and providing that the research project shall cease immediately if marijuana is found;

(8)  Adding a general fund appropriation of $72,600 for fiscal year 2014-2015 to the University of Hawaii to fund the research program;

(9)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

(10) Making technical nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of style, 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 S.B. No. 2175, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2175, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

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

____________________________

JESSICA WOOLEY, Chair