STAND. COM. REP. NO.  771-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.B. No. 3034

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 3034 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MILK,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to ensure Hawaii residents and visitors are provided the freshest and most nutritious milk for drinking by establishing that all fresh milk produced in Hawaii will only be used for liquid consumption rather than for production of non-fluid dairy products, such as cottage cheese, yogurt, and ice cream.

     This bill further strengthens Hawaii's diversified agricultural industries by providing that the remaining Hawaii dairy producers are paid a price commensurate with the quality of the milk they produce by reclassifying all fresh Hawaii produced milk as "class I milk."

     The Department of Agriculture, Hawaii Agriculture Research Center, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Hawaii Fresh Milk Industry, and Cloverleaf Dairy supported this bill.  Animal Rights Hawaii and a concerned individual opposed this measure.  Meadow Gold Dairies submitted comments.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by making technical, nonsubstantive changes for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 3034, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 3034, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair