STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1042

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1488

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. 1488, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LIVESTOCK,"

begs leave to report as follows:

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

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; Animal Rights Hawaii; Hawaii Sustainable Beef, LLC; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council; Animal Welfare Institute; Hawaii Farm Bureau; Ponoholo Ranch, Ltd; and seven individuals.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the University of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that the study required by this measure will help the State better understand the impacts of interisland ocean transport, as currently practiced, on animal welfare and meat quality and to develop practices that are best for the animals and the industry.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

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

(2) 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. 1488, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1488, 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