STAND. COM. REP. NO.  715

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2019

 

RE:   H.B. No. 778

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 778 entitled:

 

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

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to appropriate $450,000 for the acquisition of a mobile animal harvesting unit by the Department of Agriculture.

 

     The Department of Agriculture, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Kuahiwi Ranch, SK Natural Farm, LLC, and several concerned individuals supported this measure.  Animal Rights Hawaii, Keiko Conservation, and several concerned individuals opposed this measure.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Changing the amount of the appropriation to an unspecified sum; and

 

     (2)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2150, to encourage further discussions.

 

     Your Committee recognizes the importance of supporting the hog industry by providing necessary slaughterhouse facilities.  Accordingly, your Committee urges stakeholders, particularly representatives from the hog industry and the slaughterhouse facility at Kalaeloa on Oahu, to appear before your Committee on Finance to clarify the mobile nature of the harvesting unit, the permanency of its location at the Kalaeloa facility, and its necessity for a sustainable local hog industry.

 

     Should your Committee on Finance deliberate on this matter further, your Committee respectfully requests that it consider appropriating $450,000 for the acquisition of a mobile animal harvesting unit by DOA.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 778, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 778, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

RICHARD P. CREAGAN, Chair