STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2799

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2573

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2573 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO NUTRIENT CYCLING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish and make an appropriation for a regional nutrient cycling pilot program on the island of Maui and require reporting on the efficacy of the pilot project.

Your Committee received comments in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; OCC Legislative Priorities Committee, Democratic Party of Hawaii; and three individuals.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation.

Your Committee finds that nutrient cycling fosters agricultural production by building soil health and fertility. Nutrient cycling puts end products back into the land-based food chain instead of generating waste or causing pollution. Nutrient cycling benefits local agriculture by lowering production costs, increasing yields, reducing waste and revitalizing the soil. A regional nutrient cycling pilot program on the island of Maui supports Hawaii's transition away from a plantation agriculture economy and promotes environmental, economic, and social benefits for the State along with food and energy security for its residents.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriation from $2,000,000 to an unspecified amount;

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

(3) Making technical nonsubstantive changes for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2573, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2573, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair