STAND. COM. REP. NO.  348

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

 

RE:   H.B. No. 505

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

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. 505 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to improve food security and self-sufficiency in the State by:

 

(1)  Establishing state planning and policy objectives for the increased production of locally grown foods and improved consumer access, and establishing and funding an Agricultural Development and Food Security Program within the Department of Agriculture to achieve those objectives; and

 

(2)  Appropriating funds for various programs to promote locally grown foods in the marketplace, engage the Department of Education in purchasing and food education programs, fund positions in the Department of Agriculture essential for successful local food production, and assist with agricultural planning.

 

     The Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation and a few concerned individuals supported this measure.  The Department of Agriculture supported the intent of this measure.  The Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii provided comments.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Deleting the specific reference in amendments to the State Planning Act to the soil amendments industry as an industry that should be developed and expanded on the neighbor islands; and

 

     (2)  Changing its effective date to January 20, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

 

     Should the Committee on Finance deliberate this measure further, your Committee respectfully requests that it consider the recommendation of the Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii that the State Planning Act be further amended by adding new language that establishes support for agricultural industries related to soil amendments, pest and disease prevention and control, and livestock as an objective of the State.

 

     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. 505, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 505, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

CLIFT TSUJI, Chair