STAND. COM. REP. NO.  980

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2021

 

RE:   S.B. No. 855

      S.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred S.B. No. 855, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO COFFEE PEST CONTROL,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

The purpose of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Extend the sunset dates for the Pesticide Subsidy Program and Pesticide Subsidy Program Manager position for an additional two years;

 

     (2)  Provide that the $600 per year subsidy limit for each single coffee grower applies to coffee berry borer control, with a separate $600 annual limit per grower for coffee leaf rust control;

 

     (3)  Provide that no single coffee grower shall receive subsidies totaling more than $12,000 per year after June 30, 2021, and before July 1, 2023; and

 

     (4)  Expand the list of pesticides that the Department of Agriculture is required to establish to include those effective against coffee leaf rust.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; University of Hawaii System; Hawaii Farm Bureau; MauiGrown Coffee, Inc.; Rancho Aloha; Hawaii Coffee Association; Kona Coffee Farmers Association; Kona Coffee Council; Kona Hills LLC; and three individuals.

 

Your Committee finds that the coffee berry borer, an invasive beetle, has been found on all Hawaiian Islands.  In 2020, coffee leaf rust was discovered for the first time in the State on the islands of Maui and Hawaii.  Your Committee further finds that this pest and fungus threaten the viability of the State's entire coffee industry, which represents one of the largest agricultural crops in the State and is an important part of Hawaii's economy.  The two-year extension of the Pesticide Subsidy Program and Pesticide Subsidy Program Manager position under this measure will allow the State to continue to subsidize the cost of pesticides best shown to combat the coffee berry borer and coffee leaf rust, thus incentivizing coffee growers to adopt recommended pest management strategies.

 

     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 S.B. No. 855, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

MARK J. HASHEM, Chair