Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 792, H.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to appropriate funds to develop guidelines and a marketing plan to obtain export clearances to ship rainbow papayas and other locally-grown agricultural products to Japan and other countries.

The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, Center for Genomics, Proteomics and Bioinformatics Initiative at the University of Hawaii Manoa, Hawaii Agriculture Research Center, Hawaii Crop Improvement Association, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Hawaii Papaya Industry Association, Hawaii Technology Trade Association, and a concerned individual supported this bill. The Department of Agriculture supported the intent of this measure. The Hawaii Organic Farmers Association and several concerned individuals opposed this measure.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 792, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.