STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2453

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2575

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Higher Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 2575 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL FOOD PRODUCTION,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds for the University of Hawaii West Oahu to expand its existing programs and develop new means to increase food security and self-sufficiency in the State.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Department of Land and Natural Resources, State Historic Preservation Division; Office of Planning; University of Hawaii System Government Relations Office; MAO Organic Farms; Waianae Community Re-Development Corporation; Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action; Ho‘omanapono Political Action Committee; Ka Ohana O Na Pua; University of Hawaii West Oahu Health Science Program; Hawaii Alliance for Community-Based Economic Development; O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i; ACCESS Engagement; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; and twenty-two individuals.

Your Committees find that the Office of Planning, in cooperation with the Department of Agriculture, issued a report in October 2012, entitled "Increased Food Security and Food Self-Sufficiency Strategy: A State Strategic/Functional Plan Prepared in Accordance with HRS Chapter 226 Hawaii State Plan and the Hawaii Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy". The executive summary of the report states, in pertinent part, "The purpose of the Increased Food Security and Food Self-Sufficiency Strategy (Strategy) is to increase the amount of locally grown food consumed by Hawaii residents. This will increase food self-sufficiency which is a component of food security. The Strategy is a living document intended as a first step toward continued dialog and implementation". Your Committees further find that the development of higher education systems in Hawaii to promote understanding of sustainable food production and training a new generation of students for jobs in the sustainable food and agriculture sector is an essential part of meeting the strategic objectives; thus, this measure is the next step toward increasing local food production in the State.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2025, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Higher Education that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2575, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2575, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Higher Education,

________________________________ KAIALI'I KAHELE, Chair

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair