STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2568

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2293

       S.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2293 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate moneys to the Department of Agriculture to reimburse qualified producers for a percentage of their farm's feed expenses and to provide moneys for the administrative costs of the Livestock Revitalization Program.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation.

     Your Committee finds that the rising cost of livestock production and the closure of local dairy and egg farms have significantly contributed to the decline of the livestock industry in Hawaii.  This has resulted in an increased dependence on mainland products and limited options for acquiring locally produced milk, eggs, poultry, and seafood products.  Your Committee further finds that reimbursing qualified producers for a percentage of their farm's feed expenses will help revitalize the livestock industry and lower the cost of locally produced products.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Clarifying that the purpose of the appropriation is to reimburse qualified producers for their feed expenses pursuant to chapter 155D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and for the administrative costs of the livestock revitalization program;

     (2)  Changing the appropriation amount to an unspecified sum;

     (3)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

     (4)  Making technical nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of style and clarity.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2293, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2293, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair