STAND. COM. REP. NO. 249-00

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 2000

                                 RE: H.B. No. 2996
                                     H.D. 1




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B.
No. 2996 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL LOANS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to expand the Agricultural Loan
Program (Program) by:

     (1)  Providing agricultural loans to qualified part-time
          farmers; and

     (2)  Reducing state residency requirements for permanent
          resident aliens seeking financing under the State's
          Program.

     The Department of Agriculture (DOA) testified in support of
the intent of the measure.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Enabling food manufacturers located in the State who
          use Hawaii-grown agricultural products to obtain loans
          under the Program; and

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


 
 
 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 249-00
                                 Page 2

 
     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Agriculture that is attached to this report, your
Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No.
2996, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second
Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2996, H.D. 1, and
be referred to the Committee on Finance.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Agriculture,



                                   ______________________________
                                   FELIPE P. ABINSAY, JR., Chair