STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1031-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.B. No. 1616

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1616 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AQUACULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to position Hawaii as a continuing leader in commercial aquaculture by appropriating $75,000 to develop the concept of, and conduct a feasibility study that includes cost estimates for, the establishment of a primary quarantine and laboratory facility for aquatic species used in Hawaii's aquaculture industry.

     The Hawaii Aquaculture Association, Paradise Shrimp Farm Corp., Aquatic Innovations, Aquaculture Planning & Advocacy LLC, Rain Garden Ornamentals, and a concerned individual testified in support of this bill.  The Department of Agriculture offered comments.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Changing the appropriation to an unspecified amount and making it for fiscal year 2008-2009, rather than fiscal year 2007-2008; and

     (2)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2020.

     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. 1616, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1616, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair