STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2005

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2556

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 2556 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish the industrial hemp special fund, into which fees from the industrial hemp pilot program may be deposited.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; Oahu County Legislative Priorities Committee of the Democratic Party of Hawaii; Ho‘omana Pono, LLC; Ho‘omanapono Political Action Committee; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that the Department of Agriculture 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.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2556 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

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MIKE GABBARD, Chair