STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2041-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.C.R. No. 172

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 172 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO EXPAND QUARANTINE FACILITIES ADMINISTERED BY THE PLANT QUARANTINE BRANCH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Department of Agriculture to expand quarantine facilities administered by the Plant Quarantine Branch and submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the Legislature prior to the Regular Session of 2023.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Coffee Growers Association and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture and one individual.

Your Committee finds that one of the responsibilities of the Department of Agriculture's Plant Quarantine Branch is certifying plant quarantine facilities in the State, which are used to help prevent the introduction and spread of harmful pests and diseases, such as coffee leaf rust, into the State. Your Committee further finds that one solution to the spread of certain harmful pests and diseases is to replace existing plant stock with imported, resistant varieties; however, imported plant materials must be quarantined in state quarantine facilities or private, approved quarantine facilities, which are facilities that have received a certificate of approval from the Chief of the Plant Quarantine Branch. By requesting the Department of Agriculture to expand the plant quarantine facilities managed by its Plant Quarantine Branch, this measure seeks to increase the State's capacity to quarantine imported plant materials to address various plant pests and diseases that threaten the agricultural industry.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 172 and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

MARK J. HASHEM, Chair