STAND. COM. REP. NO.  489

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

 

RE:   H.B. No. 154

      H.D. 2

 

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 154, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO INDUSTRIAL HEMP,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to authorize the Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture to establish a two-year industrial hemp remediation pilot program.  This measure also appropriates funds for the program.

 

     Testimony in support of this measure was received from the American Civil Liberties Union, Pacific Biodiesel Technologies, and several concerned individuals.  Testimony in opposition to the measure was received from the Maui Police Department.  Comments on the measure were received from the Department of Public Safety and the Department of Agriculture.

 

     Your Committee finds that with its multiple growing seasons, Hawaii is in a unique position to do research on hemp for phytoremediation.  Research that will help identify the varieties of hemp best suited to remediation of contaminated soil serves the interests of the State and the nation as a whole.

 

     Your Committee also finds that Hawaii stands singularly situated to demonstrate and promote the re-introduction of industrial hemp as an alternative crop to meet the needs of our nation for energy, food, fiber, and construction materials.  The value of industrial hemp feedstock is immense.

 

Your Committee notes that, in testimony, it was estimated that it would cost $60,000 to start operation of the phytoremediation pilot project.  Thus, it is the hope of your Committee that the Committee on Finance will thoroughly examine the financial implications of this measure, including the impact of expanding the pilot project to assess the viability of industrial hemp as a biofuel feedstock.

 

     Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

(1)  Extending the scope of the pilot program to include the viability of industrial hemp as a biofuel feedstock; and

 

(2)  Changing the effective date of the measure to July 1, 2112, to promote continued discussion of the matter.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 154, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 154, H.D. 2.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

ANGUS L.K. McKELVEY, Chair