STAND. COM. REP. NO. 920

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 743

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 S.B. No. 743 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to support and protect Hawaii's coffee industry by responding effectively to ongoing and severe threats posed by coffee pests.

More specifically, the measure:

(1) Extends the sunset date of the Department of Agriculture's coffee berry borer and coffee leaf rust pesticide subsidy program to June 30, 2025;

(2) Extends the Department of Agriculture's pesticide subsidy program manager position until June 30, 2026; and

(3) Appropriates funds for the program and program manager position.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, University of Hawaii, Hawaii Coffee Association, Kona Coffee Farmers Association, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Kanalani Ohana Farm, Kona Restoration Farm, and five individuals.

Your Committee finds that this measure's extension of the pesticide subsidy program, which helps coffee farmers offset the costs of purchasing United States Food and Drug Administration-approved pesticides to control coffee pest infestations, will help to protect the health of the local coffee industry and ensure the continued production of this important crop.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing each of the appropriation amounts from $150,000 to unspecified amounts;

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; 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. 743, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 743, S.D. 1.

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

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair