STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1055

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

RE:   H.C.R. No. 212

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Agriculture and Economic Development & Business, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 212 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING FEDERAL AND STATE AGENCIES TO CONSULT WITH HAWAII SMALL SCALE FARMERS, HAWAII SMALL SCALE PRODUCERS, AND AFFECTED PARTIES ON THE OFFSETTING OF COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FOOD SAFETY MODERNIZATION ACT,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to help small scale farmers and producers in Hawaii maintain viable farm operations with implementation of the federal Food Safety Modernization Act, by requesting specified state and federal agencies to participate in meaningful consultation with these farmers and producers and other affected parties to provide financial relief to offset the costs associated with implementation of that Act.

The Department of Agriculture, Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Maui County Farm Bureau, and a concerned individual supported this measure.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Economic Development & Business that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 212 and recommend that it be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Agriculture and Economic Development & Business,

____________________________ DEREK S.K. KAWAKAMI, Chair

____________________________ CLIFT TSUJI, Chair