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HI SCR258

Concurrent Resolution

Status

Engrossed

3/31/2021

Primary Sponsor

Laura Acasio

Click for details

Origin

Senate

2021 Regular Session

AI Summary

  • Urges the Hawaii Department of Agriculture to trace how coffee berry borer and coffee leaf rust were introduced to Hawaii and determine what role importing green coffee from infected regions played in these introductions.

  • Requires the Department of Agriculture to submit a report with findings and recommendations to the Legislature no later than twenty days before the 2022 Regular Session convenes.

  • Coffee berry borer, detected in Hawaii since 2010, has infested over 90 percent of farms in the Kona region; coffee leaf rust (fungus Hemileia vasatrix) was confirmed in October 2020 and has since spread to multiple islands.

  • Report must address existing prevention measures, importation pathways, new quarantine and monitoring strategies, farmer outreach and education plans, and pesticide exposure impacts on coffee-growing communities.

  • Coffee production represents Hawaii's second-highest value crop at $50.16 million annually on 7,100 acres despite comprising only 0.65 percent of the state's farm acres.

Legislative Description

Urging The Department Of Agriculture To Identify How Coffee Berry Borer And Coffee Leaf Rust Entered Into Hawaii And Measures To Prevent The Flow Of These Invasive Species Into The State To Protect The Ongoing Viability Of Hawaii's Coffee Industry.

Coffee Berry Borer

Last Action

Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) McDermott excused (1).

4/8/2021

Committee Referrals

Finance4/8/2021
Agriculture4/1/2021
Agriculture and Environment3/16/2021

Full Bill Text

No bill text available