STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1271

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: S.B. No. 1488

S.D. 2

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 S.B. No. 1488, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LIVESTOCK,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources to conduct a study to assess the effects of heat stress on beef cattle during interisland ocean transportation.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; Animal Rights Hawai‘i; Animal Welfare Institute; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; and four individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the University of Hawai‘i System.

Your Committee finds that the study proposed by this measure would help cattle producers understand the environmental conditions inside shipping devices during transport and the carcass quality after transport. This study would also provide a useful tool for data-driven decision-making for potential future legislation relating to interisland cattle transportation.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Appropriating $62,500 to the University of Hawaii for fiscal biennium 2023-2025 for the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources to conduct the beef cattle interisland ocean transportation study;

(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 S.B. No. 1488, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1488, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Higher Education & Technology.

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

____________________________

CEDRIC ASUEGA GATES, Chair