STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1790

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: H.C.R. No. 119

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Lower & Higher Education, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 119 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO REPORT ITS CURRENT USAGE AND PLANS FOR FUTURE USAGE OF GLYPHOSATE AND GLYPHOSATE-CONTAINING HERBICIDES ON AND AROUND DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PROPERTIES, INCLUDING SCHOOLS AND PLAYGROUNDS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request that the Department of Education provide a report to the Legislature on the use of glyphosate-containing herbicides on departmental properties and plans to phase out the department's deployment of glyphosate-containing herbicides.

The Hawaii State Teachers Association, Young Progressives Demanding Action, We Are One, GMO Free Kauai, Hawaii Seed, Pono Hawaii Initiative, Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action, and numerous individuals submitted testimony in support of this measure. Western Plant Health Association and Crop Life America submitted testimony in opposition to this measure. The State Department of Education, Bayer Hawaii, and Hawaii Crop Improvement Association provided comments.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Lower & Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 119 and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair