Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred S.B. No. 2478, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to encourage the growth and development of Hawaii's agricultural industry by appropriating an unspecified amount of funds for agricultural research and market development conducted by the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation (HFBF).

The University of Hawaii, Alexander & Baldwin, Inc., Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Company, Kauai Coffee Company, Inc., Big Island Farm Bureau, Hawaii Aquaculture Association, HFBF, Maui County Farm Bureau, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Meadow Gold Dairies, Pineapple Growers Association of Hawaii, C&H Farms, and the Hawaii Beekeepers' Association supported this bill. The Department of Agriculture and Hawaii Agriculture Research Center supported the intent of this measure.

In light of the importance of the research and market development activities performed by HFBF, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an appropriation amount of $1,000,000; and

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. 2478, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2478, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.