STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1341-04

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2004

RE: H.R. No. 32

H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.R. No. 32 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION URGING THE STATE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES TO IMPLEMENT THE PRECAUTIONARY PRINCIPLE POLICY FRAMEWORK ON ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION IN CONDUCTING THE STATE'S AFFAIRS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to urge state agencies to adopt the Precautionary Principle policy framework on environmental protection in conducting the State's affairs.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by Life of the Land. Testimony in opposition to this measure was submitted by the Department of Health, Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture, Grocery Manufacturers of America, Hawaii Alliance for Responsible Technology & Science, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, and Maui County Farm Bureau. Pineapple Growers Association of Hawaii and Hawaii Agriculture Research Center submitted comments on this measure.

Your Committee finds that the concept of the Precautionary Principle policy warrants more research and discussion prior to implementation. Costs are unpredictable, specifics are vague, and outcomes are uncertain.

Therefore, your Committee has amended this measure by requesting the Legislative Reference Bureau to conduct a policy review to examine the Precautionary Principle policy framework as a guiding principle in conducting the State's affairs rather than directly urging state agencies to implement the policy.

Additionally, your Committee has made technical, nonsubstantive changes for the purpose of clarity.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 32, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.R. No. 32, H.D. 1.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection,

 

____________________________

HERMINA M. MORITA, Chair