STAND. COM. REP. NO.  842

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

RE:   H.B. No. 242

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 242 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to support value-added agricultural operations in Hawaii by authorizing the issuance of general obligation bonds and appropriating funds, matched dollar-for-dollar in cash or in-kind donations by the private sector, for the planning, repair, and modification of agricultural facilities at the former Del Monte operation on Oahu and at Maui Community College.

     The Hawaii Crop Improvement Association, ILWU Local 142, Hawaii Agriculture Research Center, and Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation testified in support of this bill.  The Department of Agriculture, University of Hawaii, and a concerned individual offered comments.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Specifying that no funds shall be made available under this Act unless matched dollar-for-dollar in federal funds in cash;

     (2)  Changing its 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. 242, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 242, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair