STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2295

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2621

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 2621 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Department of Agriculture to establish bovine tuberculosis control operations on Molokai.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; one member of the Maui County Council; and eight individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that after twenty-five years without detection, a recurrence of bovine tuberculosis has occurred among the livestock on the island of Molokai. This measure appropriates funds for essential personnel, land, and equipment for the Department of Agriculture to combat this spread of bovine tuberculosis on the island of Molokai.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2621 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture and Environment,

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MIKE GABBARD, Chair