STAND. COM. REP. NO.  562-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.B. No. 3425

      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 Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 3425 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TARO,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to address the problem of apple snail infestation of taro by providing a grant-in-aid to E Kupaku Ka 'Aina – The Hawaii Land Restoration Institute (E Kupaku Ka 'Aina) for:

     (1)  Laboratory costs and compensation for taro farmers conducting experiments to improve and protect taro; and

     (2)  Documentation and outreach involving Kauai organic cover crop control practices.

     The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Hawaii County Council, E Kupaku Ka 'Aina, Hawaii Crop Improvement Association, Kauai Taro Growers Association, and several concerned individuals supported this bill.  The Department of Agriculture (DOA) supported the intent of this bill.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources did not support this measure.  The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii submitted comments.

     Upon further consideration, your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Deleting the grant-in-aid to E Kupaku Ka 'Aina and, instead, appropriating funds to DOA for statewide taro research that focuses specifically on the apple snail problem;

     (2)  Conforming the findings in the purpose section of the bill to the bill's new focus on the apple snail problem; and

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

     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. 3425, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 3425, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

CLIFT TSUJI, Chair