STAND. COM. REP. NO.  7-18

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2018

RE:   H.B. No. 1969

      H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Economic Development & Business, to which was referred H.B. No. 1969 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FOOD SUSTAINABILITY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to increase Hawaii's food security and self-sufficiency by requiring the Office of Planning to prepare and periodically update a functional plan for seafood sustainability that expands the State's priority on food by including wild seafood as a viable food source.

The Hawai‘i Fishermen's Alliance for Conservation and Tradition, Inc., Hawaii Seafood Council, Oahu County Committee Legislative Priorities Committee of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, University of Hawaii at Manoa Student Union, and several concerned individuals testified in support of this measure.  The Department of Agriculture testified in support of the intent of this measure.  The Office of Planning provided comments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Requiring the Department of Agriculture, rather than the Office of Planning, to be the lead agency responsible for preparing and updating the functional plan for seafood sustainability, and prepare and update the plan with assistance of the Office of Planning;

     (2)  Requiring the Governor, rather than the Office of Planning, to submit the functional plan to the Legislature;

     (3)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2112, to facilitate further discussion; and

     (4)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Economic Development & Business that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1969, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1969, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Economic Development & Business,

____________________________

CINDY EVANS, Chair