STAND. COM. REP. NO. 15

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                   

 

RE:     S.B. No. 485

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 485 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO BIOSECURITY,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to increase the portion of the barrel tax deposited into the agricultural development and food security special fund, which may be used to support local agricultural development statewide, including the reduction of imports that impact biosecurity.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, one member of the Hawaii County Council, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Ulupono Initiative, Organizing for Action, and two individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

 

     Your Committee finds that the agricultural development and food security special fund was created to support critical investments in clean energy, local agricultural production, and environmental response to reduce the State's dependence on imported fossil fuels and food products.  Additionally, the fund was intended to fulfill the State's vision for increased self-sufficiency and sustainability.

 

     The agricultural development and food security special fund is an important resource that the Department of Agriculture utilizes for various activities intended to increase local agricultural production or processing; however, funding for this purpose was reallocated during the economic downturn for purposes other than increasing local food production.  Considering today's economy and the State's goal to double its local food production in the near future, your Committee finds that increasing funding for the special fund is timely and critical.  Your Committee recognizes that any additional monies deposited into this fund will support all local agricultural development statewide, one aspect of which would be to replace the importation of agriculture which correlates with improved biosecurity.

 

Your Committee notes the Department of Land and Natural Resources' concerns that the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission issued support for a carbon fee in the Commission's November 28, 2018, news release entitled State Climate Commission Encourages Urgent Actions to Combat Emissions, which references a separate report that supports an increase in the barrel tax to support clean energy and the inclusion of aviation fuel in the barrel tax.  Your Committee will consider the Commission's carbon fee recommendations as this measure may also affect barrel tax allocation.

 

Overall, your Committee finds that supporting this measure will help implement the State's biosecurity plan, increase local food production, and increase opportunities for agricultural groups statewide.

 

     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. 485 and recommends that it pass Second Reading 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