Bill Text: HI SCR91 | 2012 | Regular Session | Amended

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Working Group on Labeling Hawaii-Grown Tea

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2012-04-19 - (H) The committees on HED recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Nishimoto, Nakashima, Aquino, Awana, Chang, Hanohano, Takai, Johanson; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 6 Excused: Representative(s) Belatti, Mizuno, Saiki, Takumi, Wooley, Ching. [SCR91 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2012-SCR91-Amended.html

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THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	91
TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2012		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

ESTABLISHING A WORKING GROUP TO DISCUSS THE CREATION OF A STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND MARKETING OF THE HAWAII TEA INDUSTRY AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR LABELING REQUIREMENTS OF HAWAII-GROWN TEA.

 

 

     WHEREAS, the global tea market is a multi-billion dollar industry; and

 

     WHEREAS, the specialty tea market is projected to double in the next five years; and

 

     WHEREAS, Hawaii presently produces high quality tea, which is part of the specialty tea market; and

 

WHEREAS, the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources has recently discovered that Hawaii-grown tea (Camellia sinensis) has the potential to become a specialty crop for the State; and

 

     WHEREAS, making tea a specialty crop for the State would mean increased employment and revenue for the State at a time when both are sorely needed; and

 

     WHEREAS, the tea industry in the State should be encouraged to develop and be protected so that it may fully participate in the anticipated expansion of the world tea market; and

 

     WHEREAS, it is important to ensure that tea grown in Hawaii is properly identified and protected by strict labeling requirements, just as coffee made from coffee beans grown in Hawaii is properly identified and protected by strict labeling requirements; and

 

     WHEREAS, a working group is needed to discuss and make recommendations for labeling requirements for Hawaii-grown tea; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-sixth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2012, the House of Representatives concurring, that the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources is requested to establish a Hawaii-Grown Tea Working Group (Working Group) to discuss the creation of a strategic plan for the development and marketing of the Hawaii tea industry and make recommendations regarding labeling requirements for Hawaii-grown tea; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Working Group be composed of the following members or their designees:

 

     (1)  The Dean of the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources;

 

     (2)  The Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture;

 

     (3)  The Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism;

 

     (4)  One Senator designated by the President of the Senate;

 

     (5)  One Representative designated by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

 

     (6)  A member of the Hawai‘i Collaborators;

 

     (7)  A representative from the Hawaii Tea Society; and

 

     (8)  Any other members having knowledge of commerce or the tea market to be selected by the President of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Representatives; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Working Group is requested to:

 

     (1)  Discuss the creation of a strategic plan to market and develop the Hawaii tea industry, including any proposed legislation;

 

     (2)  Examine the existing labeling requirements relating to Hawaii-grown tea;

 

     (3)  Identify the problems with the existing labeling requirements for Hawaii-grown tea;

 

     (4)  Develop recommendations for stricter labeling requirements under state law and rules for the use of the "Hawaii-grown tea" label and other Hawaii-grown tea identifiers;

 

     (5)  Determine the fiscal impact that stricter labeling requirements or a uniform national labeling standard will have on owners and operators of tea farms in Hawaii;

 

     (6)  Develop ideas for a uniform national labeling standard and requirements for tea marketers to abide by for the use of the "Hawaii-grown tea" or other Hawaii-grown tea label; and

 

     (7)  Seek input from and collaborate with Hawaii's Congressional delegation, the United States Department of Agriculture, and the United States Food and Drug Administration on establishing and enforcing a uniform national labeling standard for the use of the "Hawaii-grown tea" label or other Hawaii-grown tea identifiers; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of the Working Group select a member from among themselves to serve as Chairperson of the Working Group; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Working Group is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2013; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the President of the Senate; Speaker of the House of Representatives; Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture; President of the University of Hawaii; Dean of the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources; Hawaii Tea Society; and Hawai‘i Collaborators.

Report Title: 

Working Group on Labeling Hawaii-Grown Tea