STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1422

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: S.B. No. 895

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred S.B. No. 895 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to include the false labeling of roasted coffee in the criminal offense of false labeling of Hawaii-grown coffee.

The Hawaii Association of Conservation Districts, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Hawaii Coffee Association, Kona Coffee Farmers Association, Ka‘u Valley Farms, LLC, Ka‘u Mountain Farm, Kau Coffee Mill, Kau Coffee Growers Cooperative, MauiGrown Coffee Company Store, and a few individuals submitted testimony in support of this measure. The Department of Agriculture (DOA) submitted comments on this measure.

Your Committee notes the testimony of DOA that it is unaware whether the methodology currently used to determine the chemical fingerprint of other commodities can be applied to coffee and that it lacks the resources to cover the costs of that type of analysis. DOA requests $50,000 to establish the baseline on soil contents for the respective growing regions.

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. 895 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committees on Consumer Protection & Commerce and Judiciary.

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

____________________________

RICHARD P. CREAGAN, Chair