STAND. COM. REP. NO.  291

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1453

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 1453 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 a strong agricultural future for Hawaii by requiring:

 

(1)  Prior certification by the Department of Health (DOH) for any activity related to:

 

(A)  Research;

 

(B)  Testing;

 

(C)  Propagation;

 

(D)  Cultivation;

 

(E)  Growth; or

 

(F)  Production;

 

of any genetically modified organism (GMO) in the state; 

 

(2)  DOH to assess the risks posed by the proposed GMO activity; and

 

(3)  Persons involved in GMO-related activities to be civilly liable for injury or damage resulting from such activity.

 

     The Center for Food Safety, Hawaii SEED, and several concerned individuals supported this bill.  DOH, the Department of Agriculture (DOA), University of Hawaii (UH) System, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, the dean of the UH Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, Hawaii Crop Improvement Association, Hawaii Agriculture Research Center, Hawaii Science and Technology Council, and several concerned individuals opposed this measure.  A concerned individual submitted comments on this bill.

 

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

 

(1)  Requiring a person conducting activities involving GMOs to inform DOH and DOA for certification;

 

(2)  Requiring a person conducting activities involving GMOs to inform the sitting chairs of the appropriate committees within the Senate and House of Representatives dealing with health and agriculture;

 

(3)  Allowing DOH or DOA to rescind certification within 180 days of its issuance;

 

(4)  Deleting the provision regarding the assessment of risks posed by the proposed GMO activity;

 

(5)  Deleting the information requirements for certification of approval;

 

(6)  Deleting the provision making persons involved in GMO-related activities civilly liable for injury or damage resulting from such activity; and

 

(7)  Making technical, nonsubstantive changes for clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1453, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1453, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Agriculture.

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

JOSHUA B. GREEN, M.D., Chair