STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1504

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   S.B. No. 524

      S.D. 1

      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. 524, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to enhance food security and self-sufficiency in the State by:

     (1)  Establishing state economic planning and policy objectives regarding increased demand for, access to, and production of locally grown foods; and

     (2)  Appropriating funds to support the objective of food security and self-sufficiency.

The Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation and several individuals provided testimony in support of this measure.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources and Department of Agriculture provided comments on this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2030, for the purpose of furthering discussion; 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 Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 524, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 524, S.D. 1, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair