STAND. COM. REP. NO.  319

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2023

 

RE:   H.B. No. 694

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Higher Education & Technology, to which was referred H.B. No. 694 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to support the aquaculture disease diagnostic laboratory at the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, in partnership with the Department of Agriculture.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; Center for Tropical and Subtropical Aquaculture; Hawaii Aquaculture and Aquaponics Association; Local Food Coalition; University of Hawaii Professional Assembly; Hawaii Farm Bureau; EcoponicX, Inc.; and one individual.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the University of Hawaii System.

 

     Your Committee finds that timely and accurate diagnostic services are a requirement for all sectors of livestock development, including aquaculture.  The aquaculture industry currently depends on out-of-state laboratories to provide molecular tests, including polymerase chain reaction tests necessary to identify the presence or absence of specific pathogens in samples from animals and other sources.  With respect to export shrimp broodstock, these tests are required to establish the specific pathogen-free status that is required by receiving countries.  Your Committee further finds that an aquaculture disease diagnostic laboratory is critical to the continued development and expansion of the Hawaii aquaculture industry.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Establishing the aquaculture disease diagnostic laboratory at the State Veterinary Laboratory Building in the Department of Agriculture Animal Industry Division Veterinary Laboratory Services Branch, in partnership with the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture;

 

     (2)  Appropriating funds to the Department of Agriculture rather than the University of Hawaii;

 

     (3)  Adding two additional Microbiologist III positions;

 

     (4)  Clarifying the way in which funds for lab staff, equipment, and supplies can be expended;

 

     (5)  Changing the effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

 

     (6)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education & Technology that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 694, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 694, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

 


 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Higher Education & Technology,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

AMY A. PERRUSO, Chair