STAND. COM. REP. NO. 255

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: H.B. No. 817

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Government Reform, to which was referred H.B. No. 817 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish benchmarks that require each state department that purchases produce to make sure that a certain percentage of the produce purchased by that department is locally-grown and report to the Legislature on the progress of each department toward meeting those benchmarks.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education, Department of Agriculture, State Procurement Office, Ulupono Initiative, and Hawaii Farm Bureau.

Your Committee finds that supporting local businesses and encouraging the production and use of local agricultural products is a matter of statewide concern. Requiring state departments to establish and meet benchmarks for the purchase of local produce, as proposed by this measure, will support local farmers and ranchers with a consistent market, provide fresh and healthy products to the community, and keep state money here in Hawaii.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting a preamble;

(2) Moving the locally-grown produce benchmark requirements out of the Procurement Code and to chapter 27, Hawaii Revised Statutes, which relates to state functions and responsibilities;

(3) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2112, to encourage further discussion; and

(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

Your Committee recognizes that chapter 103D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, may not be the appropriate chapter to accomplish the locally-grown produce benchmarks established by this measure. Your Committee has accordingly amended this measure to move the benchmarks to chapter 27, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to ensure that the state government as a whole meets the goals as prescribed therein.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Government Reform that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 817, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 817, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Government Reform,

____________________________

ANGUS L.K. McKELVEY, Chair