STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1106

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 485

S.D. 1

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. 485 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO BIOSECURITY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to enhance the development of agriculture and food security in the State.

Specifically, this measure increases the portion of the barrel tax on petroleum products that is deposited into the agricultural development and food security special fund from fifteen cents per barrel to thirty cents per barrel.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, The Nature Conservancy, Ulupono Initiative, Hawaii Farm Bureau, and one individual.

Your Committee finds that the additional moneys deposited into the agricultural development and food security special fund will support agricultural development statewide. Your Committee also finds that this funding will be available to improve biosecurity by increasing local food production, which in turn will decrease the chance that harmful biological agents will be introduced into the State through agricultural imports.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure.

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. 485, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 485, 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