STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2161

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2767

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism and Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 2767 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE NATURAL ENERGY LABORATORY OF HAWAII AUTHORITY,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to clarify that the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority's duties include supporting aquaculture.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; Agribusiness Development Corporation; Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; Kowa Premium Foods Hawaii Corporation; EcoponicX, Inc.; and Hawaii Young Republicans.

Your Committees find that while the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority (NELHA) currently manages aquaculture tenants and supports aquaculture industry development, this policy could change depending on economic or political shifts. The proposed language in this measure establishes a statutory relationship with aquaculture and signals to the aquaculture industry that NELHA will continue to support aquaculture into the future.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an effective date of January 1, 2060, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism and Agriculture and Environment that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2767, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2767, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism and Agriculture and Environment,

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair

________________________________ LYNN DECOITE, Chair