STAND. COM. REP. NO.  414

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

RE:   H.B. No. 504

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 504, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PESTICIDES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to enhance the ability of the Department of Agriculture and the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources to respond to questions about pesticide use and make recommendations for the protection of public safety and the environment.

The University of Hawaii; Chamber of Commerce Hawaii; Maui Chamber of Commerce; Hawaii Agricultural Research Center; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council; Hawaii Coffee Growers Association; Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation; The Nature Conservancy; Western Plant Health Association; Hawaii Crop Improvement Association; Alexander & Baldwin, Inc.; Monsanto Hawaii; Tedeschi Vineyards, Ltd.; Larry Jefts Farms, LLC; and many concerned individuals supported this measure.  BASF Corporation, CropLife America, Hawaii Pest Control Association, Syngenta Hawaii, and DuPont Pioneer supported the intent of this measure.  A concerned individual opposed this measure.  A concerned individual commented on this measure.

     Your Committee notes that full consideration was given to the recommendations provided by the Department of Agriculture as reiterated in House Standing Committee Report No. 74, Regular Session of 2015, but none of the recommendations was adopted into the measure.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 504, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Higher Education,

____________________________

ISAAC W. CHOY, Chair