CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 217-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.B. No. 2218

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sirs:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 2218, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO A FOOD HUB PILOT PROGRAM,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require the Department of Agriculture to establish a five-year food hub pilot program to increase access to local food;

(2) Provide for the award of grant funding to qualified applicants wishing to establish or expand a food hub or provide certain technical assistance;

(3) Authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds for the Honalo Marshalling Yard;

(4) Require reports to the Legislature; and

(5) Appropriate funds.

Your Committee on Conference finds that food hubs can play an important role in the State's efforts to improve food security and self-sufficiency. Notably, food hubs facilitate the distribution of locally-sourced foods within the State. This measure requires the Department of Agriculture to establish a five-year food hub pilot program, authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds for the Honalo Marshalling yard, and appropriates funds for the food hub pilot program.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an appropriation amount of $750,000;

(2) Authorizing the issuance of $750,000 in general obligation bonds; and

(3) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2022.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2218, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2218, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ MARK J. HASHEM Co-Chair	____________________________ MIKE GABBARD Chair
____________________________ AMY A. PERRUSO Co-Chair	____________________________ GILBERT S.C. KEITH-AGARAN Co-Chair