STAND. COM. REP. NO. 570

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 326

       S.D. 1

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. 326 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to mitigate health and food risks in the food production process.

     More specifically, this measure establishes and appropriates funds for a task force to identify and develop good agricultural practices and preventative measure guidelines to ensure safe food throughout the farm-to-consumer food supply system.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation.

     Your Committee finds that food safety is an important concern for the State, and it is critical to ensure that the process of food production is as safe as possible.  Your Committee also finds that the task force established in this measure would identify and develop the agricultural practices necessary to address the food safety and health concerns of consumers in the State.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1)  Providing for representatives from the wholesale distribution, manufacturing, retail, hotel, and restaurant industries to serve as members of the task force;

(2)  Changing the appropriation for task force administrative costs to an unspecified amount;

(3)  Changing the dissolution date of the task force from December 31, 2013, to July 1, 2014, to facilitate participation of the task force during the 2014 Regular Session;

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

(5)  Making technical nonsubstantive amendments for 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. 326, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 326, S.D. 1.

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

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair