STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1187-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: S.B. No. 1590

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems, to which was referred S.B. No. 1590, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require the Department of Agriculture to assess the steps necessary for the State to supplement federal authority to perform meat inspections within the State;

(2) Require the Department of Agriculture to assess the steps necessary to transfer full authority over meat inspections from the federal government to the State; and

(3) Appropriate funds to establish inspector positions within the Department of Agriculture to conduct meat inspections.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council; Ulupono Initiative; Maui County Farm Bureau; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; and one individual. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from Animal Rights Hawaiʻi.

Your Committee finds that it is essential to inspect livestock in order to ensure that consumers are accessing safe meat products. Your Committee further finds that the State has been dependent on the United States Department of Agriculture Food Safety Inspection Service for its meat inspection services since the mid-1990s. Your Committee believes that this measure would help restore the State's capacity and provide another option for meat inspection services for local poultry and livestock.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the number of positions for meat inspection to an unspecified number;

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

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

Your Committee notes that the Department of Agriculture is requesting three full-time equivalent inspector positions to conduct meat inspections and one full-time equivalent Meat Inspection Supervisor position.

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. 1590, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1590, S.D. 1, 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