STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1406

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   S.B. No. 593

      S.D. 2

      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 Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 593, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, 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 expanding the Livestock Revitalization Program by, among other things:

     (1)  Creating a livestock feed developer subsidy to aid qualified feed developers in the business of cultivating feed crops for sale to qualified livestock producers;

     (2)  Expanding the existing livestock feed subsidy to include feed for milking goats, sheep, lambs, goats, fish, and crustaceans produced for food and amending minimum production and flock, herd, or sale weight requirements applicable for eligibility purposes;

     (3)  Providing that both the livestock feed subsidy and the livestock feed developer subsidy funds be distributed on a pro rata basis upon aggregation of total claims by the Department of Agriculture; and

     (4)  Appropriating moneys to the Livestock Revitalization Program to fund the livestock feed subsidy and qualified feed developer subsidy programs, and other administrative costs.

Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation; 4 Ag Hawaii; Ponoholo Ranch, Ltd.; Pacific Biodiesel Technologies; and several concerned individuals submitted testimony in support of this measure.  Animal Rights Hawaii and one concerned individual opposed this measure.  The Department of Agriculture; Hawaii Aquaculture and Aquaponics Association; Maui Cattlemen's Association; Ulupono Initiative; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council; Ulupalakua Ranch; McCandless Ranch; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; Kauai Cattlemen's Association; and a few concerned individuals offered comments.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 593, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair