STAND. COM. REP. NO.  602

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2023

 

RE:   H.B. No. 606

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems, to which was referred H.B. No. 606 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MEAT PROCESSING,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to require the Department of Agriculture, in collaboration with other state agencies, to develop and implement a plan to expand the State's meat processing capacity to allow for meat from axis deer and other wild game to be distributed by non-profit food distribution services.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; Office of the Mayor of the County of Maui; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; Maui County Farm Bureau; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; Hawai‘i Farmers Union United; Maui Chamber of Commerce; and four individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from Animal Rights Hawai‘i.

 

     Your Committee finds that axis deer, an invasive species that poses a continuing threat to Hawaii's environment, could provide significant quantities of meat as a protein source for non-profit food distribution services.  Despite ongoing efforts to control the growing deer population, there are an estimated 60,000 deer roaming Maui County.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Postponing the date by which the Department of Agriculture must develop and implement the plan from July 1, 2024, to July 1, 2025;

 

     (2)  Changing its effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

 

     (3)  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 Agriculture & Food Systems that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 606, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 606, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

CEDRIC ASUEGA GATES, Chair