STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1074

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: H.B. No. 463

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 463, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FOOD SAFETY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to assist Hawaii's farmers to acquire certification under the federal Department of Agriculture Good Agricultural Practices Certification Program by:

(1) Requiring the Department of Agriculture to partner with Hawaii's agricultural community to establish a food safety certification training program to assist small- to medium-sized farms to comply with federal requirements; and

(2) Appropriating funds for a food safety certification training program.

The Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Ulupono Initiative, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, Hawaii Food Industry Association, Hawaii Crop Improvement Association, O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, and North Shore Economic Vitality Partnership submitted testimony in support of this measure. The Department of Agriculture provided comments.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 463, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair