STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1299

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 73

       S.D. 1

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 73 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE GOVERNOR TO ENSURE THAT THE CHIEF PROCUREMENT OFFICERS COMPLY WITH THE HAWAII PUBLIC PROCUREMENT CODE PREFERENCES FOR HAWAII PRODUCTS TO PROMOTE GROWTH OF THE STATE'S AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY AND THEREBY ASSURE FOOD SECURITY FOR HAWAII'S CITIZENS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Governor to ensure that the Chief Procurement Officers comply with the Hawaii Public Procurement Code preferences for Hawaii products to promote growth of the State's agriculture industry and thereby assure food security for Hawaii's citizens.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from The Hawai‘i Procurement Institute and one individual.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture and The Humane Society of the United States.

     Your Committee finds that the Hawaii Public Procurement Code preference for Hawaii products in section 103D-1002, Hawaii Revised Statutes, uses the State's buying power to create market opportunities for Hawaii's local farmers and has the potential to be an economic stimulus for Hawaii's agricultural industry.  If more local agricultural products are purchased by state agencies, Hawaii's agricultural industry can expand capacity and produce a greater quantity and wider range of crops and animal products.

     Your Committee considered including an amendment suggested by The Humane Society of the United States that would have predicated purchases made by procurement officers from the Hawaii Livestock Cooperative upon assurances that a majority of animals slaughtered there are raised and produced within the State.  However, your Committee notes that the proposed amendment does not conform to state law or the purpose of this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Labor that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 73, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 73, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary and Labor,

____________________________

CLAYTON HEE, Chair