STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1639

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                

 

RE:    H.B. No. 817

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committees on Ways and Means and Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 817, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to encourage the production and use of local agricultural products.

 

     Specifically, this measure:

 

     (1)  Requires and establishes benchmarks for each state department to ensure that a certain percentage of the produce purchased by that department consists of fresh local agricultural products or local value-added, processed, agricultural, or food products; and

 

     (2)  Requires each department to report to the Legislature on that department's progress toward meeting these benchmarks.

 

     Your Committees received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Education, Ulupono Initiative, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Blue Zones Project, Kamehameha Schools, Hawaii Farm to School Hui, Hawaii Public Health Institute, Obesity Prevention Task Force, Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, and one individual.

 

     Your Committees find that this measure will help to ensure that state moneys used for the procurement of produce remain within the State and directly support the local businesses that generate local produce and food products.

 

     Your Committees have amended this measure by changing the effective date to upon the measure's approval.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Ways and Means and Judiciary that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 817, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 817, H.D. 2, S.D. 2.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Ways and Means and Judiciary,

 

________________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair

 

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair