STAND. COM. REP. NO.  492-08

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

 

RE:   H.B. No. 3033

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 3033 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL INSPECTION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to enhance the ability of the Department of Agriculture (DOA) to prevent the importation of pests into the state by, among other things:

 

     (1)  Requiring shippers and transporters to provide advance written notification of arrival of articles transported into the state, or from one island of the state to another, as freight, air freight, baggage, or otherwise, for the purpose of debarkation or entry, or as ship's stores;

 

     (2)  Allowing a DOA inspector to order the quarantine of, or hold for examination, any freight, air freight, or baggage, transported for the purpose of debarkation or entry, or as ship's stores, when any person fails to comply with any of the notification requirements; and

 

     (3)  Expanding the range of articles subject to advance notification and possible inspection to include non-agricultural articles capable of harboring pests.


 

     The Department of Land and Natural Resources, DOA, Hawaii Agriculture Research Center, Maui County Farm Bureau, The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii, and Horizon Lines, LLC, testified in support of this bill.  Young Brothers, Limited, Dole Food Company Hawaii, and Airlines Committee of Hawaii supported the intent of this measure.  The Air Cargo Association of Hawaii offered comments.

 

     Your Committee recognizes the importance of such agricultural inspections but understands the complexity of the issue at hand.  Your Committee notes that DOA is working with stakeholders to develop rules to protect the environment from invasive species.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 3033 and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance.

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

JOSEPH M. SOUKI, Chair