STAND. COM. REP. NO. 353

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 1257

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 1257 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LIVESTOCK HARVEST FACILITIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds for the planning and design of scalable livestock harvest facilities.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; Maui Cattlemen's Association, Inc.; Hawaii Crop Improvement Association; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; Hawaii Island School Garden Network; Hawaii Cattle Producers Cooperative Association; Maui Cattle Company, LLC; Ulupalakua Ranch, Inc.; Parker Ranch, Inc.; Paniolo Cattle Company LLC; Palani Ranch Company, Inc.; Small Kine Farm; McCandless Ranch; PRL English, LLC; and eleven individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from Animal Rights Hawai‘i.

     Your Committee finds that the cattle industry in Hawaii has a long-standing history and has seen numerous changes in production practices, requiring adaptations to market conditions.  Recently, there has been a resurgence in the number of cattle that remain in Hawaii for local consumption, giving rise to challenges for many facilities that are not equipped to handle the increased numbers of cattle.  Your Committee finds that these facilities were built for a set throughput of livestock, which makes it difficult to effectively adapt to changing industry conditions, and therefore your Committee understands that funding is needed to provide plans for new livestock harvest facilities.  However, your Committee has concerns regarding the ultimate sustainability of the livestock industry in light of the continued requests for subsidies over recent years.  Your Committee believes that funds may be better used to support other areas of agriculture to reach the State's goals regarding sustainability and increased local food production.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1257, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1257, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

________________________________

MIKE GABBARD, Chair