STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2138

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2460

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred S.B. No. 2460 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

     (1)  Allow monies in the pest inspection, quarantine, and eradication fund to be expended for the electronic importer manifest program of the Department of Agriculture; and

     (2)  Make an appropriation in an unspecified amount to the Department of Agriculture from the pest inspection, quarantine, and eradication fund to implement the electronic importer manifest program.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii, Hawaii Crop Development Association, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, and Hawaii Farmers Union.

     Your Committee finds that this measure will support the Department of Agriculture's efforts to make agricultural inspection more efficient and cost effective.  In addition, this measure will help expand the Department of Agriculture's technological capacity to help protect Hawaii from invasive species.

     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. 2460 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,

____________________________

CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair