STAND. COM. REP. NO. 396-18

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2018

RE: H.B. No. 1960

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Economic Development & Business and Ocean, Marine Resources, & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1960 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AQUACULTURE,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to continue to diversify Hawaii's economy through the promotion of Hawaii's aquaculture industry by appropriating funds for the planning of, and participation of Hawaii's aquaculture industry in, the World Aquaculture Society's Aquaculture America 2020 conference to be held in Honolulu.

The Hawaii Technology Development Corporation, Hawaii Strategic Development Corporation, Kampachi Farms, Marine Genetics, Ulupono Initiative, Aquaculture Planning & Advocacy LLC, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Hawaii Aquaculture and Aquaponics Association, Blue Ocean Mariculture, Oahu County Legislative Priorities Committee of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, and several concerned individuals testified in support of this measure. The Department of Agriculture, Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, and Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority testified in support of the intent of this measure.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing its effective date to July 1, 2112, to facilitate further discussion.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Economic Development & Business and Ocean, Marine Resources, & Hawaiian Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1960, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1960, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Economic Development & Business and Ocean, Marine Resources, & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________ KANIELA ING, Chair

____________________________ CINDY EVANS, Chair