STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1270-18

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2018

RE: S.B. No. 2556

S.D. 1

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. 2556, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to prepare for the implementation of the Industrial Hemp Pilot Program by establishing the Industrial Hemp Special Fund for the deposit of moneys, including fees collected by the Department of Agriculture, and expenditure of funds for Pilot Program purposes, including hiring employees, specialists, and consultants.

The Department of Agriculture, Big Island Invasive Species Committee, Ho‘omanapono Political Action Committee, Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, Ho‘omana Pono LLC, and two concerned individuals supported this measure.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing its effective date to July 31, 2150, to encourage further discussion.

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. 2556, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2556, S.D. 1, 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