STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3223

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 2000

                                   RE:  H.B. No. 2793
                                        H.D. 1
                                        S.D. 1




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B.
No. 2793, H.D. 1, entitled:

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to carry over to fiscal year
2000-2001 any unexpended or unencumbered funds at the close of
fiscal year 1999-2000 for expenses incurred by the Agribusiness
Development Corporation and to allow the use of $250,000 of these
funds for grants for the development of an agricultural
subdivision in the Hamakua district of the island of Hawaii.

     Your Committee finds that despite the loss of the sugar
industry in the Big Island, agriculture still remains a viable
use of the former sugar lands.  One difference however, is that
instead of large tracts of land being worked by a single
plantation company, many separate landowners can work their
individual properties for different purposes ranging from truck
farming to growing specialty products for gourmet outlets.  The
Big Island growers would have access to the world market as air
transportation is readily accessible through the Hilo airport.
The State can help further these goals through the encouragement
of development of an agricultural subdivision in the Hamakua
area.  This measure seeks to accomplish that goal.


 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3223
                                   Page 2


     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the
effective date to June 29, 2999 to allow for further discussion.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your
Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No.
2793, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass
Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2793, H.D.
1, S.D. 1.

                                 Respectfully submitted on behalf
                                 of the members of the Committee
                                 on Ways and Means,



                                 ________________________________
                                 CAROL FUKUNAGA, Co-Chair



                                 ________________________________
                                 ANDREW LEVIN, Co-Chair

 
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