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 S.B. No. 2132, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to appropriate funds for agricultural research and development at the Hawaii Agricultural Research Center (HARC).

The Hawaii Leeward Planning Conference and a concerned individual supported this bill. The Department of Agriculture, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, HARC, Maui County Farm Bureau, Hawaii Crop Improvement Association, Hawaii Papaya Industry Association, Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii, Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Company, Sweet Aloha Farms LLC, Pineapple Growers Association of Hawaii, Hawaii Forest Industry Association, and several individuals testified in support of the intent of this measure and requested that the appropriation amount be included in the bill. The Dean of the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources commented on this measure.

Your Committee finds that Hawaii's agricultural industry has become diverse as prime agricultural land becomes available and quarantine restrictions are overcome. Moreover, all sectors of agriculture are working together to accelerate the expansion of the agricultural industry, increasing its importance as a viable "second" industry in the fragile Hawaiian economy.

This bill further encourages agricultural research and development through the promotion of cost sharing between the public and private sectors while maintaining current minimum levels of agricultural research and development at HARC. Your Committee finds that funding is necessary in order to continue agricultural diversity and further the promise of a rejuvenated agricultural industry.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure 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. 2132, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2132, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.