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 ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
               Rep.Hermina M. Morita, Chair
             Rep. Nestor R. Garcia, Vice Chair
   Rep. Romy M. Cachola          Rep. Ezra R. Kanoho
   Rep. Brian Schatz             Rep. Roy M. Takumi
   Rep. Colleen Meyer            Rep. Cynthia Henry Thielen


                     NOTICE OF HEARING

        DATE:    WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1999

        TIME:    8:00AM TO 11:30AM A.M.

        PLACE:   Conference Room 325, State Capitol


                        A G E N D A


Please submit 45 copies of testimony.
AGR/EEP
HB 941     RELATING TO FERTILIZERS                AGR/EEP,HLT,FIN
        Establishes standards for waste-derived commercial
        fertilizers.

Please submit 35 copies of testimony for the following bills.
AGR ONLY
HB 138     RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL GOODS                 AGR,JHA
        Makes it criminal trespass lst 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.


 
HB 978     RELATING TO AGRICULTURE                        AGR,FIN
        Encourages private lenders to provide financing for
        diversified ag by reducing risks through the
        department's ability to quarantee loans.  Up to 90% of
        the loan plus interest would be eligible.

HB 979     RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL LOANS                 AGR,FIN
        Includes credit unions under the definition of
        "private lender" to allow farmers the opportunity to
        go to the financial institution, which is their
        primary "bank", to obtain agricultural loans.

HB 980     RELATING TO IRRIGATION WATER DEVELOPMENT       AGR,FIN
        Eliminates acreage assessments against uncultivatable
        lands for irrigation project purposes.  Allows the
        Board to get minimum acreage assessments on unusable
        or uncultivatable lands.

HB 981     RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL PARK LEASES          AGR, FIN
        Expands eligibility qualifications for agricultural
        park lease applicants.

HB 1379    RELATING TO AGRICULTURE                    AGR,WLU,FIN
        Allows persons owning property within an agricultural
        district to subdivide the property into leasehold lots
        of at least 50 acres to be used for intensive
        agricultural purposes.

HB 983     MAKING AN EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION FOR THE AGRIBUSINESS
        DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION                        AGR,FIN
        Authorizes an emergency appropriation of $50,000 in
        revolving funds for fiscal year 1998-1999 to allow the
        Agribusiness Development Corporation (ADC) to
        reimburse the papaya industry for securing patent
        licenses needed to commercialize the transgenic papaya
        and carry out its ongoing projects.

                 DECISION MAKING TO FOLLOW

DECISION MAKING ONLY ON THE FOLLOWING BILLS HEARD ON WEDNESDAY,
FEBRUARY 3, 1999.  NO TESTIMONY WILL BE TAKEN.

HB 219     MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE CONTROL OF ANTHURIUM
        NEMATODES                                      AGR,FIN
        Provides funds to control anthurium nematodes.

HB 333     MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR AGRICULTURE        AGR,FIN
        Appropriates funds for agriculture for fiscal year
        1999-2000 and fiscal year 2000-2001.


 
 
 
HB 335     MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR PINEAPPLE RESEARCH AGR,FIN
        Appropriates funds for pineapple research.

HB 338     RELATING TO THE PROMOTION OF HAWAII PRODUCTS
                                                   AGR,CPC,FIN
        Etablishes standards for Made in Hawaii agricultural
        and food products.  Appropriates funds for
        enforcement.  Appropriates $100,000 to DBEDT to rent
        warehouse space in Hawaii and California to promote
        Hawaii agricultural products.

HB 374     RELATING TO AGRICULTURE                        AGR,FIN
        Appropriates moneys to DOA to research and set up
        distribution facilities in 3 mainland states for
        Hawaii agricultural products.

HB 528     MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR BIG ISLAND PAPAYA
        INDUSTRY                                       AGR,FIN
        Makes appropriation to develop the big island papaya
        industry.

HB 557     MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR TROPICAL FLOWER RESEARCH
        AND PROGRAMS                                   AGR,FIN
        Appropriates funds for tropical flower research and
        programs.

HB 898     RELATING TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN AGRICULTURAL WATER
        SYSTEM FOR UPCOUNTRY MAUI                      AGR,FIN
        Establishes a separate agricultural water supply and
        delivery system under the board of agriculture for the
        farms in upcountry Maui.

HB 937     RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE      AGR,FIN
        Establishes the "Island Fresh" campaign by requiring
        the department of agriculture to explore the
        possibility of establishing a similar international
        campaign.  Requires the department to start a
        promotional program with the private sector.

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.

DECISION MAKING ONLY ON THE FOLLOWING BILL HEARD ON FRIDAY,
FEBRUARY 5, 1999. NO TESTIMONY WILL BE TAKEN.

HB 32      RELATING TO AGRICULTURE                    AGR,HED,FIN

 
 
 
        Requires the University of Hawaii at Hilo to study the
        feasibility and desirability of industrial hemp
        production in Hawaii.  Establishes the Hawaii
        Strategic Industrial Hemp Development Act of 1999.


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. Hermina M. Morita, Chair
                               Energy and Environmental
                               Protection