STAND. COM. REP. NO.  998-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.B. No. 935

      H.D. 2

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. 935, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to further develop the potential of the aquaculture industry in Hawaii by appropriating $1 for each of fiscal years 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 to pay for the increased costs of, and attract federal funding for, statewide technical assistance provided to the aquaculture industry through the University of Hawaii (UH) Sea Grant Extension Service.

     The Hawaii Aquaculture Association, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Aquaculture Planning & Advocacy LLC, Oceanic Institute, Hawaii Science & Technology Council, Aquatic Innovations, Hawaiian Marine Enterprises, Hawaii Oceanic Technology, Inc., and a concerned individual testified in support of this bill.  The Department of Agriculture offered comments.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Deleting the reference to $1 for fiscal year 2007-2008; and

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

     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. 935, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 935, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair