STAND. COM. REP. NO.2101
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2002
RE: S.B. No. 2942
Honorable Robert Bunda
President of the Senate
Twenty-First State Legislature
Regular Session of 2002
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred S.B. No. 2942 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MEAT GRADING,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to:
(1) Clarify the meat products for which grade standards may be developed and for which grading services may be offered;
(2) Remove the responsibility for the meat grading program from the animal industry division of the Department of Agriculture; and
(3) Clarify and simplify the language of the law.
Your Committee received testimony in support of the measure from the Board of Agriculture.
Your Committee finds that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) removed the full time meat grader from Hawaii due to lack of demand for services and the inability to cover costs with the fees charged. A cooperative agreement was entered into with the USDA in early 2000, and a Quality Assurance Division staff member was trained to conduct the meat grading so that this service would be available. The regulatory clarifications provided by this measure will help guide the activities of the staff member.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2942 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture,
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____________________________ JAN YAGI BUEN, Chair |
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