HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
                 THE TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE
                  REGULAR SESSION OF 1999

                 COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE
            Rep. Felipe P. Abinsay, Jr., Chair
               Rep. Scott Saiki, Vice Chair
  Rep. Lei Ahu Isa              Rep. David Morihara
  Rep. Jerry L. Chang           Rep. Nathan Suzuki
  Rep. Robert N. Herkes         Rep. Chris Halford
  Rep. Ken Ito                  Rep. Jim Rath
  Rep. Sol P. Kaho`ohalahala    Rep. Paul Whalen
  Rep. Sylvia J. Luke

         COMMITTEE ON LABOR AND PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT
              Rep. Terry Nui Yoshinaga, Chair
           Rep. Iris Ikeda Catalani, Vice Chair
  Rep. Kenny Goodenow           Rep. Eric G. Hamakawa
  Rep. Kenneth T. Hiraki        Rep. Bob Nakasone
  Rep. Tom Okamura              Rep. K. Mark Takai
  Rep. Mark Moses               Rep. Jim Rath

   COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND BUSINESS CONCERNS
               Rep. Robert N. Herkes, Chair
              Rep. Sylvia J. Luke, Vice Chair
  Rep. Felipe P. Abinsay, Jr.   Rep. Lei Ahu Isa
  Rep. Jerry L. Chang           Rep. Ken Ito
  Rep. Sol P. Kaho'ohalahala    Rep. David Morihara
  Rep. Scott K. Saiki           Rep. Nathan Suzuki
  Rep. Chris Halford            Rep. Jim Rath
  Rep. Paul Whalen

    COMMITTEE ON OCEAN RECREATION AND MARINE RESOURCES
                 Rep. Roy M. Takumi, Chair
               Rep. Brian Schatz, Vice Chair
  Rep. Romy  M. Cachola         Rep. Nestor R. Garcia
  Rep. Ezra R. Kanoho           Rep. Hermina M. Morita
  Rep. Emily J. Auwae           Rep. Colleen Meyer


                     NOTICE OF HEARING

        DATE:    Wednesday, February 17, 1999

        TIME:    8:30 A.M. to 12:00 Noon

        PLACE:   Conference Room 325, State Capitol


                        A G E N D A

 


 
Please submit 45 copies of testimony on the following bills:
AGR/LAB
HB 641     MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE AGRICULTURAL BACK-TO-
        WORK PILOT PROGRAM                         AGR/LAB,FIN
        Provides funding for the agricultural back-to-work
        pilot program.

AGR/EDB/OMR
HB 984     RELATING TO OCEAN LEASING              AGR/EDB/OMR,FIN
        Encourages public and private interests to invest in
        research and development to demonstrate open ocean
        mariculture in Hawaii, by clarifying that
        commercialization at an appropriate site is possible.
        Allows the processing of ocean leases without prior
        approval of the Governor and prior authorization by
        the Legislature.

AGR/EDB
HB 691     RELATING TO AGRICULTURE                    AGR/EDB,JHA
        Provides general liability immunity for owners of
        agricultural lands in state enterprise zones.

Please submit 35 copies of testimony on the following bills:
AGR ONLY
HB 1280    RELATING TO AGRICULTURE                        AGR,FIN
        Extends composition of agribusiness development
        corporation board by 5 years; blank appropriation to
        board.

HB 368     RELATING TO THE STATE WATER CODE              AGR, WLU
        Provides the Board of Agriculture, under the State
        Water Code, with comparable authority over irrigation
        water as the county water agencies exercise over water
        for municipal purposes.

HB1632 HD1 RELATING TO AGRICULTURE                               
        Appropriates $100,000 for fiscal year 1999-2000 to
        develop new markets and expand existing market for
        Hawaii's papaya industry; provided the Papaya
        Administrative Committee provides $50,000 for this
        purpose.

HB1635 HD1 RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL LOANS
        Appropriates funds out of the agricultural loan
        revolving fund for loans t farmers in economically
        depressed areas.


                 DECISION MAKING TO FOLLOW


 


 
FOR DECISION MAKING ONLY. NO TESTIMONY WILL BE TAKEN.
Bill was originally heard on Wednesday, February 3,1999.
HB 949     RELATING TO AGRICULTURE                       AGR, FIN
        Directs the agribusiness development corporation to
        provide for the planning, design, and construction of
        an agricultural subdivision in the Hamakua district of
        the island of Hawaii.  Appropriates $1 for the
        purpose, to be expended by the corporation.

Bill was heard on Wednesday, February 10,1999.
HB 138     RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL GOODS                 AGR,JHA
        Makes it criminal trespass 1st degree to enter or
        remain unlawfully on cultivated  agricultural land
        that is fenced, enclosed, or secured or on which is
        displayed required notice.  Requires proof of
        ownership among sellers, buyers, and transporters of
        produce lots of fruits, nuts, and vegetables.

Bills heard on Saturday, February 13, 1999.
HB 840     RELATING TO SPECIAL PURPOSE REVENUE BONDS      AGR,FIN
        Permits special purpose revenue bonds for industrial
        enterprises to be used for agricultural and
        aquacultural enterprises.

HB 1631    RELATING TO THE AGRICULTURAL USE OF FALLOW SUGAR LANDS
        AGR,FIN
        Establishes a $500 per acre tax credit for new
        agricultural uses of fallow sugar lands and exempting
        related farm equipment purchases from the 4% GET for
        two years.

HB 947     RELATING TO AGRICULTURE                        AGR,FIN
        Appropriates funds for the construction of a multi-
        commodity, multi-technology post harvest facility that
        can be sued by certified organic producers to promote
        Hawaii's organic industry.

PERSONS WISHING TO TESTIFY ARE REQUESTED TO SUBMIT 35 COPIES OF
THEIR TESTIMONY 24 HOURS PRIOR TO THE HEARING TO:  (1)  THE
COMMITTEE'S VICE CHAIR IN ROOM 322 STATE CAPITOL; OR (2)  THE
HOUSE SGT.-AT-ARMS PERSONNEL IN THE TURNAROUND AREA OF THE
CAPITOL BASEMENT PARKING LOT.  TESTIMONY MAY BE FAXED TO THE
HOUSE SGT.-AT-ARMS OFFICE AT:  586-6501 (OAHU) OR 1-800-535-3859
(NEIGHBOR ISLANDS).  WHEN FAXING, PLEASE INDICATE TO WHOM THE
TESTIMONY IS BEING SUBMITTED, THE DATE AND TIME OF THE HEARING,
AND THE REQUIRED NO. OF COPIES THAT IS NEEDED FOR SUBMITTAL.

IT IS ALSO REQUESTED THAT THE COPIES BE ON ONE SIDE OF AN 8-1/2"
X 11" SHEET WITH THREE HOLES PUNCHED ON THE SIDE.  FOR FURTHER

 
INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL THE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE CLERK AT
586-6010.

IF YOU REQUIRE SPECIAL ASSISTANCE OR AUXILIARY AIDS AND/OR
SERVICES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PUBLIC HEARING PROCESS OF THE
STATE HOUSE (I.E., SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETER, WHEELCHAIR
ACCESSIBILITY, OR PARKING DESIGNATED FOR THE DISABLED), PLEASE
CONTACT THE COMMITTEE CLERK 24 HOURS PRIOR TO THE HEARING SO
ARRANGEMENTS CAN BE MADE.


                               _______________________________
                               Rep. Felipe P. Abinsay, Jr.
                               Chair
                               Committee on Agriculture





                               _______________________________
                               Rep. Terry Nui Yoshinaga, Chair
                               Labor and Public Employment




                               _______________________________
                               Rep. Robert N. Herkes, Chair
                               Economic Development and
                               Business Concerns

                          


                               _______________________________
                               Rep. Roy M. Takumi, Chair
                               Ocean Recreation and Marine
                               Resources