STAND. COM. REP. NO. 22

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 524

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred S.B. No. 524 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish state planning and policy objectives for the economy and fund programs that will increase the demand for and access to locally grown food to improve Hawaii's food self-sufficiency.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii, Lani's Goats, the League of Women Voters of Hawaii, Hawaii Aquaculture and Aquaponics Association, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, and one individual.

     Your Committee finds that this measure will implement the recommendations made in the 2012 report issued by the Office of Planning and the Department of Agriculture titled "Increased Food Security and Food Self-Sufficiency Strategy:  A State Strategic/Functional Plan Prepared in Accordance with HRS Chapter 226 Hawaii State Plan and the Hawaii Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy."  This measure will provide the necessary funding to implement programs that increase access to locally grown foods, increase the demand for production of locally grown foods, and provide the institutional support needed to promote and improve food self-sufficiency in Hawaii.

     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. 524 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