Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 534, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR) for various agricultural research and outreach programs beyond the University's base budget request.

Your Committee on Conference finds that CTAHR is an important institution that helps support and strengthen Hawaii's agricultural industry. It is critical that CTAHR has the ability to provide applied research techniques and extension services to farmers statewide.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure to list the contributions of the State's agricultural industry and areas that must be expanded upon by that industry. As amended, the measure requests the development of such high-value products as pest, disease, and nutrient management systems, and bioremediation technologies. The measure has been further amended to include the appropriation of $400,000 solely for fiscal year 2003-2004.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 534, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 534, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.