STAND. COM. REP. NO.  754-12

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2012

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1947

      H.D. 2

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1947, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to strengthen the Agricultural Safety and Security Program, which assists the agricultural industry in achieving food, environmental, and worker safety in a cost effective and efficient manner by:

 

     (1)  Requiring the Department of Agriculture to adopt generally accepted agricultural and management practices, after considering available information and input solicited by the Department;

 

     (2)  Requiring the Department to establish an Audit and Certification Program to audit and certify that producers, who voluntarily request certification, are following generally accepted agricultural and management practices; and

 

     (3)  Establishing the Agricultural Practices Audit and Certification Revolving Fund to establish and maintain the generally accepted agricultural and management practices program.

 


     The Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii, and four individuals supported this measure.  Hawaii Farmers Union United and eight individuals opposed this measure.  The Department of Agriculture, the Department of Budget and Finance, and an individual commented on this measure.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2030, for the purpose of facilitating further discussion; and

 

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1947, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1947, H.D. 2.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair