Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1400 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to increase the loan ceiling amounts for both farm ownership and improvement loans, and farm operating loans from $400,000 to $800,000.

Your Committee finds that the Department of Agriculture's loan program is a key resource to existing and start-up farming enterprises. An increase in the loan amounts reflects the increased real costs of farming.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the loan ceiling amount to $600,000 and by making technical nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and style.

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 S.B. No. 1400, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1400, S.D. 1.