STAND. COM. REP. NO.  606

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

 

RE:   H.B. No. 704

      H.D. 2

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 704, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

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

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to protect and preserve the health and well-being of Hawaii's natural environment, as well as its people, by imposing a ten-year moratorium on testing, propagating, cultivating, raising, or growing genetically modified taro in the state.

 

     A member of the Kauai County Council, Sierra Club, Hawaii Chapter, The Institute of Science in Society, Kipahulu Ohana, Kauai Taro Growers Association, and numerous concerned individuals supported this bill.  The Department of Health, University of Hawaii, Hawaii Agriculture Research Center, Tropical Hawaiian Products, Hawaii Science & Technology Council, and numerous concerned individuals opposed this bill.  The Department of Agriculture and HPC Foods, Ltd., submitted comments.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Shortening the time period of the moratorium from ten years to five years;

 

     (2)  Deleting the purpose section and inserting a new purpose section that conveys the historical significance of taro to Hawaii's cultural heritage; and

 

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

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 704, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 704, H.D. 2.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

CLIFT TSUJI, Chair