STAND. COM. REP. NO.  682-12

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2012

 

RE:   H.B. No. 2079

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 2079 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE STATE MICROBE,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to establish and designate the bacterium Nesiotobacter exalbescens, translated from Latin as "an island-derived rod whose color fades to white", as the official microbe of the State.

 

     Several individuals testified in support of this measure.

 

     Your Committee notes that microbes are the most abundant organisms in Hawaii and on Earth.  The bacterium Nesiotobacter exalbescens is a rare microbe and was isolated from a remote environment, a hypersaline lake on Laysan atoll, Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Your Committee believes that designation of the bacterium Nesiotobacter exalbescens as the State microbe will enhance awareness of microbiology and science, as well as stimulate interest in microbial discoveries and applications.

 

     Recognizing the connection of the bacterium Nesiotobacter exalbescens to Hawaii, your Committee requests that this bacterium also be known by the Hawaiian phrase "kinohi ākala", which translated into English means "pinkish, reddish endemic genesis".

 

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

(1)  Changing its effective date to August 16, 2161, to facilitate continued discussion; and

 

(2)  Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment 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. 2079, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2079, H.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair