STAND. COM. REP. NO. 184-20

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2020

RE: H.B. No. 2565

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 2565 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PESTICIDES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require the Department of Agriculture, in consultation with the Department of Health, to develop and implement a Restricted Use Pesticide Disposal Amnesty Program (Program) to provide a one-time, affordable, and environmentally accessible means for the disposal of restricted use pesticides from a bona fide agricultural entity;

(2) Convene a steering committee to guide and monitor the Program; and

(3) Appropriate funds for purposes of the Program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Hawaii Farm Bureau; Western Plant Health Association; Larry Jefts Farms, LLC; Hawaii Rifle Association; CropLife America; Hawaii Crop Improvement Association; and five individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii Center for Food Safety; We Are One, Inc.; UpCountry Doctor; Young Progressives Demanding Action; Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action; and over one hundred individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that responsible environmental stewardship requires management and supervision of safe collection and lawful disposal of banned, outdated, or unwanted pesticides. Your Committee believes that this measure addresses this need by establishing a one-time, affordable, and environmentally accessible means for the disposal of pesticides. Your Committee notes the concerns that large agricultural corporations will take this as an opportunity for free disposal of unwanted pesticides; however, your Committee believes that setting the fee waiver limit at fifty pounds clarifies that this measure is intended for small farmers and agricultural businesses.

Your Committee has therefore amended this measure by:

(1) Expanding the Program to include non restricted use pesticides, renaming the Program as the Pesticide Disposal Amnesty Program, and updating references throughout;

(2) Changing the appropriation to an unspecified amount;

(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2150, to encourage further discussion; and

(4) 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 Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2565, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2565, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

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

____________________________

RICHARD P. CREAGAN, Chair