Bill Text: HI HB831 | 2021 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating To Pesticides.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 16-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-01-29 - Referred to AGR, JHA, referral sheet 2 [HB831 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2021-HB831-Introduced.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
831 |
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THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to pesticides.
BE IT
ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that enforcement of Hawaii pesticide law, including timely and routine inspections and compliance investigations of potential misuse of pesticides, are crucial to protecting public health and ensuring public confidence in the State's oversight of pesticide use.
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to protect the State's residents and environment and ensure more stringent enforcement of Hawaii pesticide law by increasing monetary fines for pesticide violations.
SECTION 2. Section 149A-41, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsections (b) and (c) to read as follows:
"(b) Administrative penalties.
(1) In
general, any registrant, commercial applicator, wholesaler, dealer, retailer,
or other distributor who violates any provision of this chapter may be assessed
an administrative penalty by the board of not more than [$5,000] $10,000
for each offense;
(2) Any
private applicator or other person not included in paragraph (1) who violates
any provision of this chapter relating to the use of pesticides while on property
owned or rented by that person or the person's employer, subsequent to
receiving a written warning from the department or following a citation for a
prior violation, may be assessed an administrative penalty by the board of not
more than [$1,000] $5,000 for each offense. Any private applicator or other person not
included in paragraph (1) who violates any provision of this chapter relating
to licensing, transport, sale, distribution, or application of a pesticide for
commercial purposes may be assessed an administrative penalty as provided in
paragraph (1);
(3) No
administrative penalty shall be assessed unless the person charged shall have
been given notice and an opportunity for a hearing on the specific charge in
the county of the residence of the person charged. The administrative penalty and any proposed
action contained in the notice of finding of violation shall become a final
order unless, within twenty days of receipt of the notice, the person or
persons charged make a written request for a hearing. In determining the amount of penalty, the
board shall consider the appropriateness of the penalty to the size of the
business of the person charged, the effect on the person's ability to continue
business, and the gravity of the violation; and
(4) In
case of inability to collect the administrative penalty or failure of any
person to pay all or such portion of the administrative penalty as the board
may determine, the board shall refer the matter to the attorney general, who
shall recover the amount by action in the appropriate court. For any judicial proceeding to recover the
administrative penalty imposed, the attorney general need only show that notice
was given, a hearing was held or the time granted for requesting a hearing has
expired without such a request, the administrative penalty was imposed, and
that the penalty remains unpaid.
(c)
Criminal penalties.
(1) In
general, any registrant, commercial applicator, wholesaler, dealer, retailer, or
other distributor who knowingly violates any provision of this chapter shall be
guilty of a misdemeanor and shall on conviction be fined not more than [$25,000,]
$35,000 or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both.
(2) Any
private applicator or other person not included in paragraph (1) who knowingly
violates any provision of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and
shall on conviction be fined not more than [$1,000,] $5,000 or
imprisoned for not more than one year, or both.
(3) Any person, who, with intent to defraud, uses or reveals information relative to formulas of products acquired under the authority of section 3, Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), as amended, shall be fined not more than $10,000, or imprisoned for not more than three years, or both."
SECTION 3. This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.
SECTION 4. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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Report Title:
Pesticides; Violations; Penalty; Fines
Description:
Increases administrative and criminal penalties for those who violate the Hawaii pesticides law.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
