STAND. COM. REP. NO.  674

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

RE:   H.B. No. 573

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 573 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HAWAII GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to help preserve and protect the agricultural resources of Hawaii and help the State achieve its goals of food security, sustainability, and self-sufficiency by establishing and funding a permanent Hawaii Good Agricultural Practices Program within the Department of Agriculture.

The Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii, Ulupono Initiative, a Councilmember from Hawaii County District 9, and a few concerned individuals testified in support of this measure.  The Department of Agriculture provided comments on this measure.  

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 573 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair