STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1439-06

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2006

RE: H.C.R. No. 193

H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Agriculture and Economic Development & Business Concerns, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 193 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A TEMPORARY ADVISORY COMMISSION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to encourage meaningful dialogue and the development of recommendations to resolve issues relating to bioprospecting by requesting the Governor to establish a temporary advisory commission on biological diversity.

The University of Hawaii, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Hawaiian Alliance for Responsible Technology & Science, Hawaii Science & Technology Council, and several concerned individuals supported this measure. The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and Department of Land and Natural Resources supported the intent of this measure. A concerned individual opposed this measure. Several concerned individuals submitted comments.

Your Committees note that concerns were raised regarding the appropriateness of attaching the temporary advisory commission to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, given its uniqueness when compared to other state departments. In addition, suggestions were made to increase the representation of UH on the temporary advisory commission and to include a representative of the Department of Agriculture. Your Committees support future legislative efforts to address these concerns.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the name of the commission to the temporary advisory commission on bioprospecting and amending the measure's title to conform to this change as follows:

"REQUESTING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A TEMPORARY ADVISORY COMMISSION ON BIOPROSPECTING";

(2) Clarifying that there is a need to develop public policy to balance development and commercialization with scientific research and conservation of Hawaii's fragile bio-resources; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for style, clarity, and consistency.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Economic Development & Business Concerns that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 193, as amended herein, and recommend that it be referred to the Committee on Higher Education in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 193, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Agriculture and Economic Development & Business Concerns,

 

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JON RIKI KARAMATSU, Chair

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FELIPE P. ABINSAY, JR., Chair