STAND. COM. REP. NO. 5

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 226

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 226 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO INDUSTRIAL HEMP,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to fund a program coordinator position and inspector position within the Department of Agriculture for the industrial hemp program.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Hawaii Farmers Union United, Hawaii Farm Bureau, and nine individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that Act 228, Session Laws of Hawaii 2016, established the industrial hemp pilot program to allow the cultivation of industrial hemp and distribution of its seed in Hawaii through limited activities by licensee-agents of the Board of Agriculture for purposes of agricultural or academic research.  To ensure success, the program must be properly staffed with a program coordinator and inspector and have the proper funding for program operations.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure to designate that the appropriation is for industrial hemp program operations, in addition to funding staff positions.

 

     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 S.B. No. 226, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 226, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture and Environment,

 

 

 

________________________________

MIKE GABBARD, Chair