STAND. COM. REP. NO. 193-06

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2006

RE: H.B. No. 3218

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 3218 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to ensure that activities relating to genetically modified organisms do not pose a risk to public health or the environment in the State.

Specifically, this bill requires any person who proposes to research, test, propagate, cultivate, grow, or produce a genetically modified organism in the State to notify the Department of Health of its intent and to obtain a certification of approval from the Department of Health. This bill also requires the Department to examine and evaluate each proposal involving activity relating to genetically modified organisms to be carried out in the State and to issue a certification, to be made available to the public at the Department or on its website, only if it determines that the activity does not pose a risk to the public health or the environment. Finally, the bill defines terms, prescribes the contents of the certification, and requires the Department of Health to adopt rules.

Your Committee finds that, in December 2005, the Office of the Inspector General of the United States Department of Agriculture issued a scathing report criticizing the Department's regulation of genetically modified organism field releases. The report shows the United States Department of Agriculture often lacks even the most basic information and awareness of these activities, leading to widespread violations and disorder. These revelations directly contradict the United States Department of Agriculture's previously repeated claims that it is adequately regulating genetically modified organisms.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 3218 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committees on Economic Development & Business Concerns and Agriculture.

 

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

 

____________________________

HERMINA MORITA, Chair