STAND. COM. REP. NO. 705

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1149

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1149, S.D. 1, 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 a pilot program to identify efficient foreign agriculture small equipment and retrofit their engines to comply with federal Environmental Protection Agency standard emissions regulations.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii, Ulupono Initiative, Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Hawaii Crop Improvement Association, Maui Chamber of Commerce, and one individual.

Your Committee finds that this measure will expand the options available to local farmers and ranchers for small equipment while also complying with United States Environmental Protection Agency emissions standards. Your Committee also finds that an appropriation of $500,000 for fiscal year 2019-2020 is necessary to achieve the intent of this measure.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Requiring the Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture to submit a report to the Legislature on the pilot program's progress and any findings, recommendations, or proposed legislation, no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2020;

(2) Changing the appropriation to an unspecified amount;

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

(4) Making technical nonsubstantive amendments 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. 1149, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1149, S.D. 2.

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

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair