STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3216

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2736

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2736 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 and intent of this measure is to increase the State's biosecurity by appropriating funds for additional staff positions within the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources.

Specifically, this measure appropriates funds for:

(1) One full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) ornamental and landscaping entomologist specialist;

(2) One full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) plant pathologist extension agent; and

(3) One full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) pesticide specialist agent.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the University of Hawaii System; Department of Agriculture; Meadow Gold Dairies; Waihale Products; Flowers Forever; Performance Landscapes; Ulupalakua Ranch; Ohana Farm Orchards; Matsuda-Fukuyama Farms; Nutrien Ag Solutions, Inc.; Hawaii Coconut Protectors LLC; Land Use Research Foundation Hawaii; Hawaii Crop Improvement Association; Hawaii Farm Bureau; East Oahu County Farm Bureau; Hawaiian Flower Gardens, Inc.; Onopops Kauai; Melvin Kunitake Farm; Mulkern Landscaping and Nursery; Maui County Farm Bureau; Pacific Ag Consultants; Mochi Aulelei; and numerous individuals.

Your Committee finds that this measure provides funding for staff positions that will assist in protecting 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 the appropriation to an unspecified amount;

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2736, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2736, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair