STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2779

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2362

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2362 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ORNAMENTAL GINGER,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate moneys to the University of Hawaii for statewide research into ornamental ginger pathogens, prevention of the spread of ornamental ginger pathogens, production and distribution of pathogen-free ornamental ginger plants, and outreach to ornamental producers.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the University of Hawaii, East Oahu County Farm Bureau, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Maui County Farm Bureau, Hawaii Floriculture and Nursery Association, Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii, and four individuals.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture.

Your Committee finds that ornamental ginger is a valued plant and is one of Hawaii's most commonly used shrubs and cut flowers in floral arrangements and tropical landscape designs. Your Committee further finds that red ginger production has declined significantly over the past ten years due to viral pathogens, including six pathogens identified by University of Hawaii researchers and an additional fourteen pathogens identified by the Department of Agriculture. Your Committee finds that more research is needed to save this important agricultural product.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriation from $125,000 to an unspecified amount;

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the 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. 2362, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2362, S.D. 1.

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

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair