STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1244

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 972

H.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred H.B. No. 972, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE ANIMAL INDUSTRY SPECIAL FUND,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to add revenue generated by the State Veterinary Laboratory and Animal Disease Control Branch as sources for the Animal Industry Special Fund and clarify that the funds from the special fund may be expended to make laboratory improvements.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that the Animal Industry Special Fund is used by the Department of Agriculture to fund the operations of its Animal Industry Division (Division), which is responsible for safeguarding the State's livestock and poultry industries by controlling and preventing the entry and spread of pests and diseases; operating the rabies quarantine program and the airport holding facility; conducting investigations into violations of animal quarantine and importation statutes; and providing veterinary laboratory support for diagnosing animal diseases. Under existing law, the Animal Industry Special Fund is funded by the use or rental of the Division's properties or facilities and by appropriations made by the Legislature. This measure directs revenue from work performed by the Division's veterinary laboratory into the special fund, thus ensuring that the Division's important operations are properly funded.

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 H.B. No. 972, H.D. 1, 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