STAND. COM. REP. NO.  86

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

 

RE:   H.B. No. 534

 

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 534 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SECTION 266-17, HAWAII REVISED STATUTES,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to:

 

(1)  Require the Department of Transportation to discount its rates and fees for shipments of Hawaii-grown agricultural products in its harbors, wharves, and other properties; and

 

(2)  Repeal a provision allowing cruise boats holding permits for Kewalo Basin to use, for a fee, Honolulu Harbor in the event Kewalo Basin is not available for use due to weather conditions and road closures or repairs.   

 

     The Department of Transportation, Department of Agriculture, and Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation supported the intent of this bill.

 

The Department of the Attorney General has noted that this measure may raise novel issues; however, its review is in progress.  It is your Committee's understanding that the Attorney General will be prepared to testify on these matters before your Committee on Transportation, should it decide to consider this measure.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 534 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Transportation.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

CLIFT TSUJI, Chair