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Exhibit A <br /> •B • NO. <br /> ____ <br /> A BILL FOR AN ACT <br /> RELATING TO THE COUNTIES' AUTHORITY ON AGRICULTURE <br /> BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII: <br /> 1 SECTION 1 . The primary objective of the Hawaii Right to <br /> 2 Farm Act was to protect and promote agricultural lands by <br /> 3 preventing nuisance lawsuits arising due to encroaching <br /> 4 development . On the other hand, each county has an interest in <br /> 5 preventing the establishment of agricultural technologies that <br /> 6 are adverse to what are generally accepted agricultural <br /> 7 practices within that county. In particular, this amendment <br /> 8 makes clear that each county, through its elected county <br /> 9 council, has the right to regulate the cultivation of <br /> 10 genetically engineered crops . <br /> 11 <br /> 12 The counties are aware that the cultivation of genetically <br /> 13 engineered crops in one location can contaminate neighboring <br /> 14 non-genetically engineered crops . In light of the substantial <br /> 15 controversy surrounding the cultivation of genetically <br /> 16 engineered crops and the differential in the likelihood of <br /> 17 cross-pollination depending upon the type of crop being <br /> 18 cultivated, county-level oversight concerning the open-air <br /> 19 cultivation of genetically engineered crops is appropriate to <br /> 20 minimize potential risks and adverse impacts . <br /> 21 <br /> 22 The counties foremost obligation is to protect the health <br /> 23 and safety of its population and are aware that standard medical <br /> 24 facilities in our outer-island counties are not equipped with <br /> 25 toxicology laboratories for either sufficient or sophisticated <br /> 26 testing of illnesses and harms that may result from genetically <br /> 27 engineered organisms or their associated pesticides . <br /> 28 <br /> 29 The counties are also aware that in 2013 the multinational <br /> 30 agrochemical corporations lead an effort to gut the jurisdiction <br /> 31 of the counties, such that they would no longer have any <br /> 32 authority over matters concerning the health and wellbeing of <br /> 33 their residents . (See 2013 Senate Bill No. 727 . ) In addition, <br /> 34 the multinational agrochemical corporations advocated to further <br /> 35 erode the ability of either the State or the counties to <br />