CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 94-18

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2018

RE: S.B. No. 2556

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sirs:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 2556, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to prepare for the implementation of the Department of Agriculture's (DOA) industrial hemp pilot program by establishing the industrial hemp special fund for the deposit of monies, including fees collected by the DOA, and expenditure of funds for pilot program purposes, including hiring of employees, specialists, and consultants.

Your Committee on Conference finds that the DOA industrial hemp pilot program is progressing toward implementation; however, a special fund is necessary for deposit of fees collected through the program and to support the program, including the hiring of employees, specialists, and consultants necessary to complete projects. Your Committee on Conference further finds that part II of chapter 141, Hawaii Revised Statutes, authorizes the DOA to collect various fees and assess fines related to the industrial hemp pilot program. Requiring the DOA to deposit the fees into a special fund will promote transparency, help track revenues of the program, and guide the DOA in adjusting the fee amounts to ensure that the program is financially self-sustaining.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by changing its effective date to upon approval.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2556, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2556, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ RICHARD P. CREAGAN Co-Chair	____________________________ MIKE GABBARD Chair
____________________________ LYNN DECOITE Co-Chair	____________________________ GIL RIVIERE Co-Chair