STAND. COM. REP. NO.  498

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

RE:   H.B. No. 316

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Public Safety and Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 316 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to provide financial assistance for agricultural operations impacted by vog by establishing a temporary reimbursement program to reimburse qualified tenants, operating on state-leased agricultural lands in vog-impacted areas, for costs incurred by the tenant in repairing, maintaining, or replacing fencing and other infrastructure on the leased property due to vog.

     County of Hawaii, a member of the Hawaii County Council, Ka'u Farm Bureau, and a concerned individual supported this bill.  The Department of Agriculture supported the intent of this measure.  The Department of Defense opposed this bill.  A member of the Hawaii County Council submitted comments.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Public Safety and Agriculture that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 316 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Public Safety and Agriculture,

____________________________ CLIFT TSUJI, Chair

____________________________ FAYE HANOHANO, Chair