STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1103

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   S.B. No. 272

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred S.B. No. 272, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO RAT LUNGWORM DISEASE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to the University of Hawaii at Hilo for programs, studies, and activities related to the prevention and eradication of rat lungworm disease.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources; Mayor of the County of Hawaii; Hawaii Farm Bureau; Hawai‘i Farm to School and School Garden Hui; The Maritime Group, LLC; Hawaii Island School Garden Network; Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species; Big Island Invasive Species Committee; and numerous individuals testified in support of this measure.  The Department of Agriculture, Department of Health, and University of Hawaii at Hilo supported the intent of this measure.  One individual provided comments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing its effective date to July 31, 2150, to facilitate further discussion; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     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 S.B. No. 272, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 272, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Higher Education.

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

____________________________

RICHARD P. CREAGAN, Chair