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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
2909 |
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THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to plant quarantine facilities.
BE IT
ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that coffee leaf rust is
a devastating fungal pathogen that was first discovered in Sri Lanka in 1869 and
subsequently detected in the State of Hawaii in October 2020. Since its first detection, the Hawai‘i board of agriculture approved an interim administrative rule that
restricted the movement of coffee plants, plant parts, and other coffee leaf rust
hosts from islands with infected plants to stop the spread to other islands. Through the State's collaborative effort, the legislature
further finds that an effective, long-term solution to coffee leaf rust is the replacement
of existing coffee trees with rust-resistant varieties imported from overseas.
The legislature further finds that existing
State-owned plant quarantine facilities are unable to mitigate the demand for disease-resistant
stock. Increasing the number of State-owned
plant quarantine facilities and empowering local farmers to construct and manage
privately-owned plant quarantine facilities will benefit growers by improving the
department of agriculture's ability to adequately quarantine regulated plant materials.
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to provide
a certification process for privately-owned and operated plant quarantine facilities
to streamline the importation and quarantine process for rust-resistant coffee varieties
and to increase the State's capacity of plant quarantine facilities.
SECTION 2. Chapter 150A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part II to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§105A- Certification of privately-owned and operated
plant quarantine facilities. (a)
A privately-owned and operated plant quarantine
facility shall not operate unless the facility has been certified by the chief of
the plant quarantine branch.
(b) Certification of a privately-owned and operated
plant quarantine facility shall be requested in writing from the chief of the plant
quarantine branch in a form specified by the chief, and shall attest to the following:
(1) The facility is
of adequate construction to prevent the escape of an insect, disease, or other pest;
(2) The facility can
be securely locked;
(3) The facility may
be accessed by the plant quarantine branch as necessary to facilitate inspection;
(4) Quarantined material
may be treated at the facility as necessary to remove potential infections; and
(5) Any other requirements
specified by the chief of the plant quarantine branch.
(c) Privately-owned and operated plant quarantine facilities
shall operate under the jurisdiction of the plant quarantine branch and in accordance
with rules adopted by the department and the plant quarantine branch.
(d) Certification of a privately-owned and operated plant quarantine facility may be revoked upon a finding by the plant quarantine branch that the facility has fallen into disrepair and is no longer serviceable."
SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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Report Title:
Plant Quarantine Facilities; Privately-Owned and Operated; Plant Quarantine Branch; Department of Agriculture
Description:
Provides a certification process for privately-owned and operated plant quarantine facilities.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.