STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1606

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 694

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

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 H.B. No. 694, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to support the State's aquaculture industry.

Specifically, this measure appropriates moneys to support the Aquaculture Disease Diagnostic Laboratory of the Department of Agriculture, in partnership with the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; University of Hawaii; Hawaii Farm Bureau; Local Food Coalition; Pacific Hybreed, Inc.; Hawaii Aquaculture and Aquaponics Association; and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that the aquaculture industry is one of the fastest-growing segments of the State's agricultural sector and has become an important source of seafood and other products for local sale and export. Your Committee further finds that the funds appropriated by this measure will provide essential support to this growing industry.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Correcting the name of the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources; and

(2) Clarifying that the two full-time equivalent (2.0 FTE) microbiologist III positions are permanent positions.

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 H.B. No. 694, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 694, H.D. 1, S.D. 1.

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

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair