STAND. COM. REP. NO.  571-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   H.B. No. 1990

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1990 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HAWAII GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to strengthen the food safety aspect of the State's goal for food sustainability and self-sufficiency by establishing the Hawaii Good Agricultural Practices Program for farms growing food products.  Specifically, the Program will:

     (1)  Develop science- and risk-based good agricultural practices that reasonably reduce the potential for on-farm food borne illness;

     (2)  Develop cost- and time-effective programs to educate and train farmers in good agricultural practices;

     (3)  Provide procedures for voluntary verification of good agricultural practices and compliance certification; and

     (4)  Develop a consumer information program to teach home practices for the treatment and handling of agricultural food products.

Hawaii Farm Bureau, Local Food Coalition, Hawaii Farmers Union United, Kohala Center, and two concerned individuals testified in support of this measure.  The Department of Agriculture commented on this measure.

     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 H.B. No. 1990 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair