STAND. COM. REP. NO. 441-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 1812

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Agriculture and Economic Development, to which was referred H.B. No. 1812 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE NATURAL ENERGY LABORATORY OF HAWAII AUTHORITY,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to clarify that the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority's duties include supporting aquaculture.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, Hawaii Aquaculture & Aquaponics Association, and Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority.

Your Committees find that the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority (NELHA) currently manages aquaculture tenants and supports aquaculture industry development. This measure adds specific language in statute that NELHA's duties include supporting the research, development, and commercialization of aquaculture, thereby clarifying the explicit relationship between aquaculture and NELHA and affirming NELHA's duties to support the State's aquaculture industry.

Your Committees have amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Economic Development that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1812, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1812, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Agriculture and Economic Development,

____________________________ SEAN QUINLAN, Chair

____________________________ MARK J. HASHEM, Chair