STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2384

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2716

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 S.B. No. 2716 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE ANIMAL INDUSTRY SPECIAL FUND,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize fees for diagnostic, surveillance, and other work by the Department of Agriculture's Division of Animal Industry's Veterinary Laboratory and Animal Disease Control Branch to be deposited into the animal industry special fund.

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

Your Committee finds that the animal industry special fund was established to receive moneys from the use or rental of the Department of Agriculture's Division of Animal Industry properties and facilities to assist with expenditures of the Division. The Division's Veterinary Laboratory assists industries, practicing veterinarians, the state animal quarantine branch, and other governmental animal health agencies by providing laboratory and testing services, including pathology, histopathology, parasitology, and serology; diagnostic support; and conducting disease surveillance projects involving poultry, swine, dairy, and other livestock and aquaculture industries. Your Committee further finds that although reductions were made to the Veterinary Laboratory in recent years, the lab is currently positioned to perform at optimal capacity and generate revenue from its diagnostic, surveillance, and other work fees. This measure ensures that such fees will be deposited into the animal industry special fund to assist with costs of the Division of Animal Industry.

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 S.B. No. 2716 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

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MIKE GABBARD, Chair