STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3077

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2098

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 Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2098 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to provide education and support to local businesses regarding compliance with the United States Food and Drug Administration's industry guidance on colored sea salt.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Chamber of Commerce Hawaii; and Hawaii Food Industry Association.

Your Committee notes that this measure requires, before any funds from the appropriation may be released, that private businesses collectively contribute fifty percent of the cost to conduct and submit to the federal Food and Drug Administration any research, studies, or analysis required to obtain approval by the federal Food and Drug Administration of any color additives used in Hawaii sea salt.

Your Committee finds that this measure provides necessary support to ensure the continued viability of the State's sea salt manufacturing industry.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

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

(2) 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. 2098, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2098, S.D. 1.

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

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair