STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1342

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: S.B. No. 99

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems, to which was referred S.B. No. 99, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MEAT AND POULTRY INSPECTION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the Department of Agriculture to establish, implement, and administer a meat and poultry inspection program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of the Mayor of the County of Maui; Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; Hawai‘i Farmers Union United; Maui Chamber of Commerce; and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture.

Your Committee finds that this measure could help increase the capacity to process meat and poultry, diversify processing options, reduce processing impediments, reduce transportation time and costs, and support producers' ability to donate locally produced meat to food banks.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing its effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 99, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 99, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems,

____________________________

CEDRIC ASUEGA GATES, Chair