STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1041

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1486

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1486, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to prevent food waste and reduce food insecurity by expanding meat processing capacity in the State, including the processing of wild game.

More specifically, the measure:

(1) Requires the Department of Agriculture, in collaboration with the Hawaii Interagency Council on Homelessness; Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife; and Department of Health, Food Safety Branch; and in consultation with the County of Maui Axis Deer Task Force, to develop and implement a plan to expand the meat processing capacity in the State to allow for meat from axis deer and other wild game to be processed for distribution by nonprofit food distribution services by July 1, 2024; and

(2) Appropriates funds to the Department of Agriculture for implementation of the plan.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Maui County Council, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Aina Ho`okupu o Kilauea, Maui County Farm Bureau, Hawaii Forest Industry Association, Hawaii Farmers Union United, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, and eight individuals.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services.

Your Committee finds that this measure's solution to two existing challenges--an overabundance of wild game and statewide food insecurity--by expanding the State's meat processing and distribution capacity, with assistance from community-based nonprofit food distribution organizations, will allow for more efficient distribution of available food resources to under‑resourced communities.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that the purpose of the measure is to appropriate funds to expand the State's meat processing and distribution capacity, including a donation program;

(2) Clarifying that the deadline of July 1, 2024, is the date by which distribution of meat under the plan shall commence; 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. 1486, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1486, S.D. 2.

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

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair