STAND. COM. REP. NO.  633-18

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2018

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1688

      H.D. 2

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committees on Agriculture and Health & Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 1688, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Address the outbreak of rat lungworm disease in Hawaii by appropriating funds to the Department of Agriculture for surveying, testing, and treating rat lungworm disease in dogs, cats, horses, and freshwater fish and invertebrates, in collaboration with the Department of Health and the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources; and

 

     (2)  Enhance Hawaii's food security and agricultural diversification by appropriating funds to the Department of Agriculture for research, development, and support of aquaponics in the State.

 

     The Department of Agriculture, Department of Land and Natural Resources, University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, Mayor of the County of Hawaii, Hawaii Island Economic Development Board, Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Big Island Invasive Species Committee, and three concerned individuals supported this measure.  Animal Rights Hawaii and a concerned individual opposed this measure.  

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by deleting its contents and adding new language that:

                                                   

     (1)  Includes a purpose section;

 

     (2)  Establishes the Rat Lungworm Disease in Non-Human Animals Study Group to evaluate, research, and gather information on rat lungworm disease and report to the Legislature;

 

     (3)  Appropriates $100,000 for the support and expenses of the Rat Lungworm Disease in Non-Human Animals Study Group; and

 

     (4)  Includes an effective date of July 1, 2150.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Health & Human Services that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1688, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1688, H.D. 2, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Agriculture and Health & Human Services,

 

 

____________________________

JOHN M. MIZUNO, Chair

 

____________________________

RICHARD P. CREAGAN, Chair