STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1421

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: S.B. No. 375

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred S.B. No. 375, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to address the many issues associated with the Governor's goal of doubling local food production by 2020 by requiring the Department of Agriculture (DOA), in cooperation with the Office of the Governor, to develop a strategic plan to achieve the Governor's goal of doubling food production and increasing food exports by 2030.

The Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, Elemental Excelerator, 350Hawaii.org, Ka Ohana O Na Pua, Organization for Action, and several concerned individuals supported this measure. DOA submitted comments on this measure.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

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

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

Your Committee respectfully requests DOA to submit annual preliminary reports on the status of the Governor's goal of doubling food production and include in the reports whether a current food production baseline has been established, and if so, the foods that are designated for increased production.

Your Committee also respectfully requests your Committee on Finance to require that the strategic plan focus on the need for local food production and deemphasize the exportation of locally produced foods.

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. 375, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 375, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

RICHARD P. CREAGAN, Chair