STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1123

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.B. No. 1220

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1220 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL MARKETING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to provide a dedicated source of revenue for the Seal of Quality Program (Program) by establishing the Seal of Quality Special Fund (Fund) to support the Program's operations.

The Department of Agriculture (DOA), Hawaii Agriculture Research Center, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Green Point Nurseries, Manoa Honey Company, Kona Pacific Farmers Cooperative, Hawaiian Vanilla Company, and Nalo Farms testified in support of this bill.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Making an appropriation out of the Fund to be expended by DOA for the Program;

     (2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2020, to encourage further discussion; and

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     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. 1220, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1220, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair