STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1145-20

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2020

RE: S.B. No. 2736

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Lower & Higher Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 2736, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII COLLEGE OF TROPICAL AGRICULTURE AND HUMAN RESOURCES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources for an ornamental and landscape entomology extension specialist, plant pathologist extension specialist, and pesticide extension specialist.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources; Meadow Gold Dairies; Maui County Farm Bureau; Land Use Research Foundation; Hawaii Farm Bureau; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council; East Oahu County Farm Bureau; Hawaii Crop Improvement Association; Waihale Products; Kaneshiro Farm; Hawaii Food Products Inc.; Matsuda-Fukuyama Farms; Maui Floral; Tropical Flowers Express; Dinas Garden; The Grassmaster; Wines of Kauai, LLC; Kamiya Papaya; KHK Ranch, LLC; Main Family Farm; Hawaii Fish Company Inc.; Yee's Orchard; Ohana Farm Orchards; Hawaii Pacific Orchids; and numerous individuals.

Your Committee finds that the biosecurity of agriculture in Hawaii is one of the most significant issues facing agriculture production. This measure will provide funding for additional positions within the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources to protect the future of agriculture and biosecurity in the State by monitoring crop health and developing remediation solutions.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing its effective date to July 2, 2050; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Lower & Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2736, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2736, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Lower & Higher Education,

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair