STAND. COM. REP. NO. 407-18

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2018

RE: H.B. No. 2304

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 Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 2304 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to facilitate the implementation of the Industrial Hemp Pilot Project by establishing the Industrial Hemp Special Fund (Special Fund) administered by the Department of Agriculture to fulfill the purposes of the program.

The Department of Agriculture, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, and Ho‘omanapono Political Action Committee supported this measure. A concerned individual opposed this measure. The Department of the Attorney General submitted comments on this measure.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting the language that provides that the moneys in the Special Fund shall remain available until the moneys are obligated or the Special Fund is terminated;

(2) Changing its effective date to July 31, 2150; and

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

Your Committee notes that the island of Molokai's agricultural culture, soil composition, and available workforce and land make it an ideal candidate for a Department of Agriculture pilot project site for the industrial hemp program.

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. 2304, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2304, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

RICHARD P. CREAGAN, Chair