STAND. COM. REP. NO.  126

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   H.B. No. 487

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 487 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to support local agriculture by:

     (1)  Expanding livestock feed subsidies to include feed for goats, sheep, lamb, fish, and crustaceans; and

     (2)  Appropriating funds to reimburse qualified agricultural producers and to pay the administrative costs of the livestock revitalization program.

The Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii; Hawaii Aquaculture & Aquaponics Association; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; Hawaii Farm Bureau; Local Food Coalition; Ulu Pono Initiative; Waimalu Valley Ranch; and one individual testified in support of this measure.  Animal Rights Hawai‘i testified in opposition to this measure.  The Department of Agriculture provided comments on this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     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. 487, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 487, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

JESSICA WOOLEY, Chair