STAND. COM. REP. NO. 504

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: H.B. No. 817

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 817, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Establish benchmarks that require each principal state department that purchases produce to ensure that a certain minimum percentage of the produce purchased by that department is locally grown, starting with ten percent by January 1, 2025, and progressing through fifty percent by January 1, 2050; and

(2) Require that each department report to the Legislature annually on their progress in meeting those benchmarks.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, BEES>me, Hawai‘i Public Health Institute, Hawai‘i Alliance for Progressive Action, Hawai‘i ‘Ulu Producers Cooperative, and three individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Department of Education, and Ulupono Initiative.

Your Committee finds that local businesses are the backbone of a strong local economy. Your Committee further finds that supporting local producers of agricultural products strengthens the State's local agricultural industry and promotes healthy nutrition.

Your Committee has amended this measure by amending the definition of "produce" to include staple starches.

Your Committee notes the need for continuing discussion on this amended measure as it moves through the legislative process, specifically what the proper metric should be for assessing the progress of each state department in meeting the locally-grown produce benchmarks proposed by this amended measure.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 817, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 817, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

____________________________

AARON LING JOHANSON, Chair