STAND. COM. REP. NO.  21

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   H.B. No. 780

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 780 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO NUTRIENT CYCLING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to promote a diversified agriculture model of farming by:

     (1)  Appropriating funds for the establishment of a Nutrient Cycling Center Pilot Project (Pilot Project) on Maui; and

     (2)  Requiring the Department of Agriculture to report to the Legislature on the operational and economic efficacy of the Pilot Project.

The Hawaii Center for Food Safety, A‘a Li‘i Farm, Hawaii Farmers Union United, and many concerned individuals supported this measure.  The Department of Agriculture supported the intent of this measure.  The Department of the Attorney General, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Western Plant Health Association, and a concerned individual provided comments.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 780 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

RICHARD P. CREAGAN, Chair