Strong opposition to HB1226

30 people have submitted testimony for this bill so far.

Your Information and Testimony

First Name

Last Name

Address

City

State

Postal Code

Phone

Testimony

Bill Information

Position Statement

Strong opposition to

Name of Bill

HB1226

Category

Agriculture and Food

Description of Bill

Preempts certain state administrative regulatory actions and county regulatory actions relating to genetically modified plant organisms. Excepts from the preemption any county ordinance that took effect before 01/01/09 and made unlawful certain actions relating to particular species of genetically modified plant organisms. Excepts also from the preemption any state administrative regulatory action or county regulatory action that bans, restricts, or otherwise regulates the growing of genetically modified taro.

Hearing

Wednesday, March 4, 2009 09:00 AM

Sample Talking Points

BACKGROUND
Genetic Engineering is a controversial topic in Hawaii.
After ten years of consumers, farmers and environmental groups working to raise awareness about genetic engineering on the Big Island, last year the Hawaii County Council listened to their community and passed a creating a ban on GE taro and GE coffee on Hawaii Island. It is possible State legislators did not like to see this kind of decision being made at the County level, and it is likely that the passage of the ban on GE taro and coffee incited enough fear in Hawaii's biotechnology industry that citizens are becoming educated and act together to make decisions they feel important for their homes that biotech then went to the Speaker of the House Calvin Say and asked for this bill.
HB1226"throws a bone of taro" recognizing that statewide Hawaiians are becoming active on this issue, but at its core is about LIMITING LOCAL CONTROL AND COUNTY RULE and is bad policy.
This bill has already been re-assigned from two committees (originally AGR and JUD) AND NOW ONLY TO AGR to fast track its process through the legislature. Why not CPC, EEP and what happened to JUD??
For some reason the Hawaii Farm Bureau features all of the other bills related to genetic engineering on their priority list of bills for the 2009 session, but does not mention HB1226. If they submit testimony in support of this measure it would be poor form.
This kind of preemption bill is not new and has happened around the country in response to mobilized citizens, don't let it happen here!!!
Don't be fooled by the "we don't want patchwork legislation" arguement, have you seen the building codes lately?
FMI on local issues this relates to visit hawaiiseed.org, kahea.org & for history on preemption-
http://environmentalcommons.org/preemption-bills-fail-2006.html

Bill Progress

Date	Update
02/12/2009 03:02 PM	oppose HB1226 protect local democracy!