STAND. COM. REP. NO.  850

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

 

RE:   H.B. No. 453

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 453, 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

 

(1)  Establish a grant program to provide grants to farmers to assist them in paying for the costs of compliance with the Federal Food and Drug Administration Food Safety Modernization Act, federal regulations, and state food safety laws;

 

(2)  Establish the Food Safety Certification Costs Grant Program Special Fund to provide the required grants; and

 

(3)  Appropriate funds for the Grant Program.

 

     Hawaii Farm Bureau, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Hawaii Crop Improvement Association, Ulupono Initiative, and Maui Chamber of Commerce supported this measure.  The Department of Agriculture and Department of Budget and Finance offered comments.

 

     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. 453, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair