STAND. COM. REP. NO. 418

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 818

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism, to which was referred S.B. No. 818 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AQUACULTURE,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to transfer the aquaculture program from the Department of Agriculture to the Agribusiness Development Corporation and appropriate funds.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Agribusiness Development Corporation and one individual. Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture Planning and Advocacy, and one individual. Your Committees received comments on this measure from Hawaii Aquaculture and Aquaponics Association.

Your Committees find that transferring the aquaculture program from the Department of Agriculture to the Agribusiness Development Corporation could be beneficial for the State because it is administratively attached to the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, which works to enhance Hawaii's economic goals. Your Committees further find that the Department of Agriculture is limited in its ability to oversee and enhance Hawaii's aquaculture industry due to the Department's primary functions as a regulatory and law enforcement body, with economic development being less of a priority. Therefore, the Agribusiness Development Corporation may be better suited to enhance economic development of the aquaculture industry in the State. Thus, this measure transfers the aquaculture program from the Department of Agriculture to the Agribusiness Development Corporation.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 818 and recommend that it pass Second Reading 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 Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism,

________________________________ LYNN DECOITE, Chair

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair