STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3565

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.R. No. 61

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.R. No. 61 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO SUBMIT A REPORT ON PESTICIDE INSPECTIONS CONDUCTED WITHIN THE PAST FIVE YEARS AND STRENGTHEN STATEWIDE ENFORCEMENT OF RESTRICTED USE PESTICIDE VIOLATIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Department of Agriculture to submit a report on pesticide inspections conducted within the past five years and to strengthen statewide enforcement of restricted use pesticide violations.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawai‘i Reef and Ocean Coalition, Hawai‘i Alliance for Progressive Action, Green Party Hawai‘i, and nine individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture and one individual.

Your Committee finds that failure to abide by pesticide use instructions poses significant risks to public health and the environment. Despite the threats posed by pesticide misuse, it remains a significant problem in the State. This measure requests the Department of Agriculture to submit a report on pesticide inspections conducted within the past five years and strengthen statewide enforcement of restricted use pesticide violations to mitigate the risk of pesticide misuse in Hawaii.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 61 and recommends its adoption.

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

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MIKE GABBARD, Chair