STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1113

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 609

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 609, 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 appropriate funds for the establishment of three full-time equivalent (3.0 FTE) inspectors to perform meat inspection services.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of the Mayor of the County of Maui; Aina Ho‘okupu o Kilauea; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; Maui County Farm Bureau; Hawai‘i Farmers Union United; Kohana Family Farms; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; and three individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriation to an unspecified amount; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 609, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 609, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair