STAND. COM. REP. NO.  342

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

 

RE:   H.B. No. 503

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 503 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for three additional full-time equivalent (3.00 FTE) inspector positions within the Department of Agriculture's Pesticides Branch to properly administer and regulate restricted use pesticides in accordance with the Hawaii Pesticides Law.

 

     The Western Plant Health Association, Ponoholo Ranch Limited, Hawaii Crop Improvement Association, Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii, Hawaii Farm Bureau, GMO Free Kauai, GMO Free Maui, and many individuals testified in support of this measure.  The Department of Agriculture testified in support of the intent of this measure.  Hawaii Center for Food Safety and an individual commented on this measure.

 

     Your Committee noted the Department of Agriculture's testimony that currently there is a more pressing and urgent need for an additional chemist and two additional case developer positions.


 

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

(1) Appropriating funds for one full-time equivalent (1.00 FTE) chemist position and two full-time equivalent (2.00 FTE) case developer positions, rather than the three inspector positions;

 

(2) Changing its effective date to July 31, 2150, to facilitate further discussion on this measure; and

 

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for 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. 503, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 503, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

RICHARD P. CREAGAN, Chair