STAND. COM. REP. NO. 966-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 2431

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2431, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Establish the Sustainable Food Systems Working Group within the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development;

(2) Require the working group to develop a plan for a more sustainable, resilient local food economy and report to the Legislature; and

(3) Appropriate funds to establish the working group and develop the plan and for the hiring of one full-time equivalent Sustainability Specialist position.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, Hawai‘i Food+ Policy, North Shore Economic Vitality Partnership, and three individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Department of Budget and Finance, Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, and Hawaii Farmers Union United.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriations and position count to unspecified amounts; and

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2431, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2431, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair