STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3594

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.C.R. No. 116

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Education and Agriculture and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 116 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AGRICULTURAL DIAGNOSTIC SERVICE CENTER, IN CONSULTATION WITH OTHER PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ENTITIES, TO CARRY OUT A SURVEY OF INFORMATION NEEDS OF HAWAII'S AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY, AND ASSESS WHETHER THE HAWAII AGRICULTURAL INFORMATION CENTER CAN MEET THE INFORMATION NEEDS OF HAWAII'S AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to request the University of Hawaii Agricultural Diagnostic Service Center, in consultation with other public and private entities, to carry out a survey of the information needs of Hawaii's agricultural industry, and assess whether the Hawaii Agriculture Information Center can meet such needs.

     Testimony in support of the measure was submitted by the University of Hawaii Agricultural Diagnostic Service Center, MobileSoft International LLP, and one individual. 

     Your Committees find that the agriculture industry in Hawaii has changed dramatically over the past several decades, including changes to the market, technology, and the environment.  The need for increased access to information is vital to sustaining a healthy agriculture industry that is mindful of economic and environmental factors.  The Hawaii Agriculture Information Center is developing a computer system that utilizes a comprehensive data warehouse and decision-aid online applications to provide site-specific real time information to aid decision making on agriculture activities to multiple users in the State.

     This measure requests the University of Hawaii Agriculture Diagnostic Service Center, in consultation with other organizations, to survey the information needs of Hawaii's agricultural industry and assess whether the Hawaii Agriculture Information Center can meet the information needs of the industry.  Your Committees determine that this survey will help to ensure the economic viability, growth, and expansion of agricultural operations in the State while also providing for environmental protections within the industry.  Your Committees also determine that the Hawaii Agricultural Diagnostic Service Center should utilize all available public and private resources in conducting its study and believes that broader language is necessary to effectuate this purpose.

     Accordingly, your Committees have amended this measure by:

     (1)  Replacing references to utilizing the assistance of MobileSoft International LLP with broader references to any appropriate public or private entity to assist the University of Hawaii Agricultural Diagnostic Service Center in conducting its survey; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive changes to the

measure and its title for purposes of clarity and to reflect preferred drafting style.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Education and Agriculture and Hawaiian Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 116, as amended herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 116, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Education and Agriculture and Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________ JILL TOKUDA, Chair

____________________________ NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair