STAND. COM. REP. NO. 893

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1344

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1344, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require the Department of Agriculture, in coordination with the Office of Planning, to update the State Agricultural Functional Plan.

More specifically, this measure requires the Department of Agriculture and Office of Planning to prepare a plan that:

(1) Includes updates on seafood sustainability;

(2) Includes other agricultural economic updates; and

(3) Expands the State's priorities on food sustainability by including wild seafood as a viable food source.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Office of Planning; University of Hawaii West-Oahu Food+ Policy Internship; Waialua Boat Club; Lokahi Fishing, LLC; United Fishing Agency; Hawaiian Affairs Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii; Aina Momona; Fishing Tales with Mike Sakamoto; Hawaii Fishermen's Alliance for Conservation and Tradition; and numerous individuals.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture.

Your Committee finds that the updated State Agricultural Functional Plan required by this measure will strengthen Hawaii's food security and provide a strategy for the State's sustainable agricultural development.

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. 1344, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1344, S.D. 2.

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

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair