Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred S.B. No. 1400, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to increase the loan ceiling amounts from $400,000 to $600,000 for both farm ownership and improvement loans and farm operating loans UNDER THE Agricultural Loan Program (Program).

The Department of Agriculture, Meadow Gold Dairies, and Pineapple Growers Association of Hawaii supported the intent of the bill.

Your Committee finds that by increasing the ceiling to $800,000, the Program's flexibility will provide opportunities for those companies requiring more funding than currently offered.

Upon further consideration, your Committee has amended this bill by:

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 S.B. No. 1400, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1400, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.