STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1487-18

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2018

RE: S.B. No. 2519

S.D. 2

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 S.B. No. 2519, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE ENVIRONMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to increase environmental sustainability and diminish the need for landfills by diverting select municipal solid waste to produce compost, animal feed, building materials, and energy. Specifically, this measure authorizes the Agribusiness Development Corporation (ADC) to enter into contracts with private businesses to remove select municipal solid waste from the waste stream for use in other business sectors; provided that the contract benefits agricultural and agriculture-related projects.

The Department of Agriculture, ADC, Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc., and a concerned individual supported this measure. The City and County of Honolulu Department of Environmental Services opposed this measure.

Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance to consider the concerns of the City and County of Honolulu, relating to interference with the City's "flow control" of municipal solid waste and ADC exceeding its statutory purpose, as expressed in its testimony on this measure and to take any action deemed appropriate.

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 S.B. No. 2519, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

RICHARD P. CREAGAN, Chair