STAND. COM. REP. NO. 573

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 564

       S.D. 2

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 564, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HAWAII-GROWN PRODUCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish a Hawaii-grown Produce Working Group to develop and implement a demonstration model in which a state facility utilizes Hawaii-grown produce for consumption.

     In addition, the measure also:

     (1)  Requires the working group to report its findings and recommendations to the Legislature; and

     (2)  Appropriates an unspecified sum for the working group to develop and implement the demonstration model.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Kohala Center - Hawaii Island School Garden Network, Hawaii Association of Independent Schools, and Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation.

     Your Committee finds that increasing the consumption of Hawaii-grown produce will help ensure the availability of fresh, high quality produce by establishing agriculture as a driving economic force in the State.  Your Committee believes that the Hawaii-grown Produce Working Group established by this measure will help the Legislature evaluate how locally-grown produce can be utilized at state facilities throughout the State.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

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

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 564, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 564, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair