STAND. COM. REP. NO. 413
Honolulu, Hawaii
S.D. 1
President of the Senate
Thirty-Second State Legislature
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Higher Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 518 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AQUACULTURE,"
beg leave to report as follows:
beg leave to report as follows:
The purpose and intent of this measure is to require and appropriate funds for the University of Hawaii Sea Grant Program to contract with an independent consultant to establish a five-year plan to develop goals, objectives, and an operational plan with budgets and timelines to strengthen and grow the aquaculture industry in the State.
Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Kohala Mountain Fish Company, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, Aquaculture Planning and Advocacy, HIplan, Hawaii Aquaculture and Aquaponics Association, and one individual. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General.
Your Committees find that supporting local aquaculture can help the State attain greater food security. Your Committees further find that aquaculture in Hawaii is the fastest growing industry in the agricultural sector with substantial future growth potential. This measure requires the University of Hawai‘i Sea Grant College Program to develop a statewide strategic five-year plan for the aquaculture industry with an independent consultant and provides appropriations for this purpose.
Your Committees have amended this measure by:
(1) Inserting legislative findings that the development of the aquaculture industry in Hawaii is of statewide concern, as recommended by the Department of the Attorney General, to clarify that the legislature is exercising its power to enact laws of statewide concern, rather than the University of Hawaii in particular; and
(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.
As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Higher Education that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 518, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 518, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Higher Education,
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________________________________ DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair |
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________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair |
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