STAND. COM. REP. NO. 90

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 162

       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. 162 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to allow consumers to acquire raw milk and raw milk products from producers registered with the Department of Health for pet use, if certain conditions are met, including a label indicating that raw milk and raw milk products are not pasteurized and are only intended for consumption by pet animals.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Hawaii Farmers Union United, Naked Cow Dairy, Miss Rodeo Program Hawaii, Wai‘anae Coast Neighborhood Board, and ten individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Health, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, and two individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture.

     Your Committee finds that legalization of raw milk for consumption by consumers is a growing trend throughout the United States.  Thirteen states allow sales of raw milk and, with the exception of Michigan, no state expressly prohibits the sale of raw milk as animal feed.  However, your Committee also recognizes the fact that the Department of Health has very serious concerns regarding the safety of raw milk.

     Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

     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. 162, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 162, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committees on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health and Ways and Means.

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

________________________________

MIKE GABBARD, Chair