STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1941

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: S.B. No. 743

S.D. 1

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 Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 743, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO COFFEE PEST CONTROL,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Broaden the scope of the subsidy program for pesticides to combat coffee berry borer and coffee leaf rust to include fertilizers and rename the program and manager position as the Pesticide and Fertilizer Subsidy Program and Pesticide and Fertilizer Subsidy Program Manager, respectively;

(2) Extend the sunset date for the Pesticide and Fertilizer Subsidy Program to June 30, 2025, and the Program Manager position, including the position's civil service and collective bargaining laws exemption, to June 30, 2026; and

(3) Appropriate funds for the operation and implementation of the Pesticide and Fertilizer Subsidy Program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from one member of the Hawai‘i County Council; Ma‘alahi Farm; Kona Bae Farm; Synergistic Hawai‘i Agriculture Council; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; Huahua Farm; Mai Mahealani Farm; Kanalani Ohana Farm; Hawaii Coffee Growers Association; Kona Coffee Farmers Association; The Four Sens, LLC; Hawaii Coffee Association; and three individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture and University of Hawai‘i System.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 743, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair