STAND. COM. REP. NO.  276-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.B. No. 3034

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Agriculture, 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 help ensure that the remaining Hawaii dairy producers are paid a price commensurate with the quality of milk they produce.  Specifically, this bill:

     (1)  Specifies that all Hawaii-produced fresh milk up to 100 percent of the total production quotas for all milk sheds in the state shall be deemed to be used as Class I milk except under certain conditions; and

     (2)  Repeals existing provisions that prohibit producers or producer distributors from having milk production quotas that exceed twenty percent of the total quotas established in the state.

     The Department of Agriculture, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Hawaii Agriculture Research Center, and several concerned individuals supported this bill.  Animal Rights Hawaii opposed this measure.  Meadow Gold Dairies submitted comments. 

     Your Committee recognizes the importance of ensuring the continued financial viability of Hawaii's dairy farms.  Local dairy farms, and local farms in general, not only provide a fresh source of milk and other food products for our residents and visitors, but also represent critical components in achieving the long-term goal of food security and food self-sufficiency for our state.

     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 H.B. No. 3034 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

CLIFT TSUJI, Chair