Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2132 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to fund agricultural research and development at the Hawaii Agriculture Research Center.

Your Committee finds that Hawaii's agriculture industry has become increasingly diverse with new economic opportunities as prime agricultural land becomes available and quarantine restrictions are overcome. All sectors of agriculture, sugar, pineapple, macadamia, coffee, papaya, flowers, exotic tropical fruits, and others are working together to accelerate the expansion of the agricultural industry.

Your Committee also finds that this bill is necessary to provide the funds to promote the cost sharing of agricultural research between the public and private sectors and to assist in maintaining current minimum levels of agricultural research and development at the Hawaii Agriculture Research Center.

Your Committee has amended the bill by changing the appropriation to an unspecified amount to allow further discussion on this measure, and by making technical nonsubstantive amendments.

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. 2132, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2132, S.D. 1.