STAND. COM. REP. NO.  377

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.B. No. 1219

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 1219 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE LOANS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to provide farmers with enhanced financial support by increasing the ceiling on agricultural and aquacultural loans that may be approved by the Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture from $25,000 to $75,000.

     The Department of Agriculture, Maui County Farm Bureau, Hawaii Aquaculture Association, Hawaii Agriculture Research Center, Aloun Farms, and several concerned individuals supported this bill. 

     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. 1219 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture,

____________________________

CLIFT TSUJI, Chair