STAND. COM. REP. NO. 761-04

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2004

RE: H.B. No. 2034

H.D. 3

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2034, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO BIOPROSPECTING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to help protect Hawaii's biological resources and diversity by:

(1) Prohibiting the conveyance of the rights, interest, and title of biological resources or biological diversity on public lands;

(2) Establishing a Temporary Bioprospecting Advisory Commission (Commission) to, among other things:

A) Identify issues and develop policies related to bioprospecting, including the equitable sharing of benefits;

B) Review policies, laws, and models of other jurisdictions;

C) Prepare a comprehensive report addressing the issues in paragraphs (A) and (B) above; and

 

D) Conduct an inventory of current biotechnology research projects and activities;

and

(3) Appropriating funds to enable the Commission to develop a comprehensive bioprospecting plan.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, Sierra Club-Hawaii Chapter, Oahu Council of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs, Waikiki Hawaiian Civic Club, King Kamehameha Hawaiian Civic Club, Ali'i Pauahi Hawaiian Civic Club, Pearl Harbor Hawaiian Civic Club, Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs, Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation, Keala Pono, Life of the Land, Ilioulaokalani Coalition, and more than twenty concerned individuals supported this bill. The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and the High Technology Development Corporation supported the intent of the measure. The University of Hawaii and Hawaii Technology Trade Association supported the intent of the bill and suggested amendments.

Your Committee has amended this bill by:

(1) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2010; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

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. 2034, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2034, H.D. 3.

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

 

____________________________

DWIGHT Y. TAKAMINE, Chair