STAND. COM. REP. NO.  536

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1471

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committees on Agriculture and Water & Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 1471 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AQUACULTURE,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to regulate land-based aquaculture farming on lands exceeding three acres in area and classified as agricultural.

 

     The Department of Agriculture and a concerned individual testified in support of this measure.  Hawaii Aquaculture and Aquaponics Association; Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation; Day2 Resources, LLC; and one individual opposed this measure.  Island Resources, Ltd., and two individuals submitted comments.  

 

     Your Committees want to encourage further discussion on this topic because aquaculture farming is a growing industry and your Committees agree that the Department of Agriculture is the appropriate body to take the lead and provide organization and support for the industry.  Therefore, this measure has been amended by:

 

     (1)  Explaining that the intent of this measure is to provide organizational structure and support to the aquaculture industry and not to create an additional burdensome regulatory scheme;

 

     (2)  Requiring the Department of Agriculture to facilitate, rather than regulate, land-based aquaculture farming on specified land;

 

     (3)  Removing the requirement that the Department of Agriculture adopt rules to regulate the aquaculture industry;

 

     (4)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2020, to promote further discussion; and

 

     (5)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Water & Land that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1471, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1471, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Agriculture and Water & Land,

 

 

____________________________ CINDY EVANS, Chair		____________________________ JESSICA WOOLEY, Chair