STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1334

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 308

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 Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred H.B. No. 308, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Establish the Sustainable Food Systems Working Group within the Department of Agriculture;

(2) Require the working group to submit a plan, any recommendations for implementing the plan, and any proposed legislation to the Legislature; and

(3) Appropriate funds to establish the working group and develop the plan and for an unspecified number of sustainability specialist positions to be employed by the Department of Agriculture.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; Office of Hawaiian Affairs; University of Hawai‘i College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; Sierra Club of Hawai‘i; North Shore Economic Vitality Partnership; Hawai‘i Public Health Institute; Ulupono Initiative; Hawaii Food Industry Association; Climate Protectors Hawaii; Hawai‘i Tourism Authority; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc; Hawai‘i Farmers Union United; and four individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health.

Your Committee finds that developing a more sustainable food system for Hawaii represents an opportunity to create a new food economy that integrates the objectives of green job creation, sustainable economic development, land stewardship, food security, environmental protection, and climate change resiliency with the principles of public health and collective well-being. Your Committee acknowledges that the State must lead the way with policies and plans that can propel Hawaii in this new direction pragmatically. However, your Committee recognizes that the Legislature is limited in what it can accomplish on its own, and therefore must rely on and work closely with industry, government agencies, and policy experts to bring its ideas and goals into fruition. Thus, this measure establishes within the Department of Agriculture the Sustainable Food Systems Working Group, a collection of thirty-two representatives from across the State's government agencies and agriculture sector, to develop an interagency food systems plan and appropriates funds and positions to support this group.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Adding to the Sustainable Food Systems Working Group a representative from the Department of Health, to be selected by the Director of Health, and a representative from the Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc., to be selected by the president of the Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; and

(2) Replacing the selector of the two representatives of the University of Hawaii System who have experience in food systems, with the Dean of the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, and the selector of the representative of the Hawaii Farm Bureau, with the President of the Hawaii Farm Bureau.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 308, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 308, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture and Environment,

________________________________

MIKE GABBARD, Chair