Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 965 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to support local agricultural producers by requiring government purchasing agencies to purchase only agricultural products that are grown, produced, raised, or manufactured in the State. In addition, this measure establishes exemptions from this requirement that apply under certain conditions.

The Department of Education, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, and ILWU Local 142 supported this bill. The Department of Agriculture and Hawaii Agriculture Research Center supported the intent of this measure. The State Procurement Office opposed this bill.

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 H.B. No. 965, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 965, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committees on Education and Public Safety and Military Affairs.