STAND. COM. REP. NO. 271

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 1999

                                   RE:  S.B. No. 491
                                        




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Economic Development, to which was
referred S.B. No. 491 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:
     
     The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for
tropical flower research.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure
from the University's College of Tropical Agriculture and Human
Resources, the Hawaii Agriculture Research Center, the Hawaii
Farm Bureau, the Big Island Farm Bureau, the Big Island
Dendrobium Grower's Association, Green Point Nurseries, and the
Hawaii Tropical Flower Council.  The Department of Agriculture
submitted comments on the measure.

     Your Committee finds that the floriculture and nursery
products industry ranks as the number one diversified
agricultural industry, with a farm gate value in excess of
$68,000,000 during the past three years.  However, the industry
faces strong foreign competition from third world countries and
their less costly nursery products.

     Your Committee is in support of this measure and believes it
will help stimulate increased production and sales for Hawaii
growers.


 
a                                                     SB491
 
                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 271
                                   Page 2


     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Economic Development that is attached to this
report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose
of S.B. No. 491 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be
referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Economic
                                   Development,



                                   ______________________________
                                   LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair

 
a                                                     SB491