STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3256

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.R. No. 124

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.R. No. 124 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE STATE AUDITOR TO CONDUCT A PERFORMANCE AUDIT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE'S PROCEDURES RELATING TO AQUACULTURE IMPORTATION PERMIT APPLICATIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the state Auditor to conduct a performance audit of the Department of Agriculture's procedures relating to aquaculture importation permit applications.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture.

Your Committee finds that local farmers and others are ready and able to bring additional aquaculture to the State that can assist the State in achieving local food production and sustainability goals; however, there are reports of several incidents in which those seeking to import aquaculture into the State have not received permits from the Department of Agriculture within the maximum time periods or within a reasonable amount of time after the expiration of the maximum time periods established in the Hawaii Administrative Rules. This measure seeks a performance audit to obtain a better understanding of the existing aquaculture importation permit process and identify ways to ensure a more expeditious but responsible process to support Hawaii's aquaculture industry.

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 concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 124 and recommends that it 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