STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1411

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: S.B. No. 1588

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems, to which was referred S.B. No. 1588, S.D. 2, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Department of Agriculture for the establishment and implementation of a GroupGAP food safety training and certification program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; Department of Education; University of Hawai‘i System; Office of the Mayor of the County of Maui; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; Hawaii Food Industry Association; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; Ohana Hui Ventures; North Shore Economic Vitality Partnership; MetroGrow Hawaii; Hāmākua Institute; and ten individuals.

Your Committee finds that GroupGAP is the only comprehensive farm food-safety training program in Hawaii that results in United States Department of Agriculture harmonized Good Agricultural Practices certification, the standard most closely aligned with the United States Food and Drug Administration's food-safety guidelines. Your Committee further finds that a GroupGAP program would increase the number of food-safety-certified farmers in the State, thereby enhancing Hawaii residents' access to safe, locally produced food.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing its effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion; 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 Agriculture & Food Systems that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1588, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1588, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems,

____________________________

CEDRIC ASUEGA GATES, Chair