STAND. COM. REP. NO 387

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                

 

RE:    S.B. No. 588

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committees on Agriculture and Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 588 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to permit the acquisition of raw milk and raw milk products by consumers if certain conditions are met.

 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from Hawaii Farmers Union United Kona Chapter, Maui Cattlemen's Association, and thirty-one individuals.  Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Health.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture.

 

     Your Committees find that the sale of raw milk from farmers to consumers can benefit local agriculture while providing consumers with more dairy options and allowing consumers to make their own health decisions.

 

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

     (1)  Inserting language to allow the Department of Health to adopt rules to regulate the production and distribution of raw milk and raw milk products; provided that the rules are consistent with rules in states that authorize the production, distribution, and resale of raw milk and raw milk products; and

     (2)  Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Health that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 588, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 588, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection.

 

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

 

____________________________

JOSH GREEN, Chair

 

____________________________

RUSSELL E. RUDERMAN, Chair