STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3479

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2041

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred H.B. No. 2041, H.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 appropriate funds to the Department of Agriculture for three full-time equivalent inspectors to perform meat inspection services.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; Hawaii Meats, LLC; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture.

Your Committee finds that the State's previous meat inspection program was discontinued in the mid-1990s due to cuts in budget and staffing mandated by the reduction in force directives. The USDA-Food Safety Inspection Service assumed responsibility for those obligations and has been performing meat inspection services statewide in Hawaii since that time. Your Committee further finds that it is not legal to combine state and federal meat inspection in any single facility. Accordingly, increasing the number of meat inspectors in the State by establishing meat inspection positions in the Department of Agriculture will promote the continued growth of the State's livestock industries.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an appropriation amount of $250,000, consistent with S.B. No. 2824, S.D. 1, the Senate companion to this measure; and

(2) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2020.

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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2041, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2041, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture and Environment,

________________________________

MIKE GABBARD, Chair