Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 1941 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to repeal the sunset date of section 2 of Act 120, Session Laws of Hawaii 1997. This will allow transporters of seed corn to processing facilities to continue to remain exempt from regulation by the Public Utilities Commission (PUC).

Testimony in support of this bill was submitted by the Chair of the Kauai County Council, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Kauai County Farm Bureau, Hawaii Agriculture Research Center, Hawaii Crop Improvement Association, and the Location Manager of Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. The Department of Agriculture supported the intent of this measure. PUC offered comments.

Your Committee recognizes that in addition to the growing seed corn transport industry, other agricultural business sectors in Hawaii may benefit from the PUC exemption reflected in this bill. One such area involves the transportation of animal feed. Your Committee supports future legislative efforts to exempt the transportation of animal feed from PUC regulation.

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. 1941 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.