STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2820

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2454

       S.D. 2

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2454, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish an agricultural genetically modified organism task force to determine whether the State should regulate the agricultural use of genetically modified organisms.

     In addition, the measure:

     (1)  Requires the task force to report its findings and recommendations to the Legislature prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2016; and

     (2)  Appropriates an unspecified amount for administrative costs associated with the task force.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, and one individual.  Written comments in opposition were received from a Kauai County Council Member, Eco Hostel Hawaii, GMO Free Hawaii, Ihilani Coffee & Tropicals, and forty-nine individuals.

     Your Committee finds that the use of genetically modified organisms in agricultural production is a controversial issue that deserves further discussion with regard to the challenges and opportunities presented by agricultural biotechnology and the potential need for regulation by the State.  Your Committee believes that the task force established by this measure will provide for a careful and comprehensive examination of the facts, issues, and law relating to the agricultural use of genetically modified organisms.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Administratively attaching the task force to the Department of Agriculture;

     (2)  Clarifying that the presidents of the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation and the Hawaii Farmers Union United shall be invited to serve as members of the task force;

     (3)  Providing that the members of the task force shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses in carrying out their duties;

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

     (5)  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 Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2454, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2454, S.D. 2.

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

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair