STAND. COM. REP. NO.  338-20

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2020

 

RE:   H.B. No. 2041

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 2041 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for the Department of Agriculture (DOA) for three full-time equivalent inspectors to perform meat inspection services pursuant to the Hawaii Meat Inspection Act.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Hawaii Meats LLC; Hawaii Farm Bureau; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; and one individual.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture.

 

     Your Committee finds that DOA's meat inspection program was discontinued in the mid-1990s due to mandated budget cuts and reduction in force directives.  Your Committee also finds that since the closure of the state meat inspection program, the United States Department of Agriculture Food Safety Inspection Service has performed meat inspection services statewide.  Your Committee further finds that relying only on the federal meat inspection service jeopardizes Hawaii's livestock industry and wild game food stock.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing its effective date to July 1, 2150, to encourage further discussion.

 

     Your Committee notes that section 159-27, Hawaii Revised Statutes, of the Hawaii Meat Inspection Act, describes the scope of duties of meat inspectors.  Your Committee urges DOA to expedite its hiring and training of meat inspectors and submit a detailed report on the status of its efforts to your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on 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. 2041, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2041, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

RICHARD P. CREAGAN, Chair