STAND. COM. REP. NO. 253

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 489

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Agriculture & Food Systems and Economic Development, to which was referred H.B. No. 489 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AQUACULTURE,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to strengthen aquaculture in Hawaii by:

(1) Requiring the Animal Industry Division of the Department of Agriculture to administer an assessment and approval process to import and move aquatic livestock in the State;

(2) Requiring the Animal Industry Division to develop an aquatic biorisk-based framework for the assessment and approval process to import and move aquatic livestock; and

(3) Requiring the Aquaculture Program to undertake certain activities to develop and expand the aquaculture industry.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture and Hawai‘i Farm Bureau. Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Animal Welfare Institute.

Your Committees find that this measure would support the aquaculture industry in the State while also protecting against aquatic biorisks.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Authorizing the Department of Agriculture to issue permits as part of its administration of an assessment and approval process to import and move aquatic livestock in the State;

(2) Changing its effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

Your Committees respectfully request that your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, should it choose to deliberate on this measure, to consider adding a provision regarding the health and welfare of aquatic livestock. Your Committees further respectfully request that your Committee on Finance, should it choose to deliberate on this measure, to consider an appropriation amount of $900,000 for a two-year project to develop a system pursuant to this measure, as requested by the Department of Agriculture.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture & Food Systems and Economic Development that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 489, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 489, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Agriculture &

Food Systems and Economic Development,

____________________________ DANIEL HOLT, Chair

____________________________ CEDRIC ASUEGA GATES, Chair