STAND. COM. REP. NO.  558-10

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2010

 

RE:   H.B. No. 2948

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2948, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

The purpose of this bill is to protect agriculture in Hawaii by:

 

     (1)  Establishing restrictions on the interisland movement of agricultural articles;

 

     (2)  Including nonagricultural articles capable of harboring pests within the scope of these regulations, including container labeling requirements;

 

     (3)  Expanding the requirements for arrival notification for marine vessels and aircraft;

 

     (4)  Broadening inspectors' authority to quarantine or inspect; and

 

     (5)  Establishing violations of conditions of importation or interisland movement of agricultural and nonagricultural articles as a misdemeanor offense and increasing the fine for violators.

 

     The Department of Agriculture, The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii, and Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation testified in support of this bill.  Airlines Committee of Hawaii, Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species, Hawaiian Airlines, and a concerned individual provided comment.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2948, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair