STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1966

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: S.B. No. 485

S.D. 1

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 S.B. No. 485, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO BIOSECURITY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to change the portion of the barrel tax on petroleum products that is deposited into the Agricultural Development and Food Security Special Fund (Special Fund) from fifteen cents per barrel to an unspecified amount per barrel to fund agricultural inspector positions and other activities intended to increase in-state agricultural production or processing and thereby reduce agricultural imports that may serve as vectors for the introduction of invasive species.

The O‘ahu County Democrats Committee on Legislative Priorities, O‘ahu County Democrats, Ulupono Initiative, The Nature Conservancy of Hawai‘i, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, and Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species supported this measure. The Department of Agriculture and Department of Land and Natural Resources 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 S.B. No. 485, S.D. 1, 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