STAND. COM. REP. NO.  800

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2011

RE:   H.B. No. 667

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 667, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FOOD SAFETY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to streamline permitting and licensing requirements for the production and processing of food, by requiring:

(1)  The Department of Health (DOH), with the cooperation of the Department of Agriculture (DOA) and the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism (DBEDT), to develop a detailed action plan to simplify and consolidate permitting and licensing requirements for the production and processing of food, by food production and processing facilities; and

(2)  DOH to submit a report of its actions to the Legislature prior to the convening of the 2012 Regular Session.

     DOA and the Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii testified in support of this bill.  DOH opposed this measure.  DBEDT and the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation commented on this measure.

     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. 667, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair