STAND. COM. REP. NO.  127

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   H.B. No. 737

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 737 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SPECIAL PURPOSE REVENUE BONDS TO ASSIST AGRICULTURAL ENTERPRISES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to assist agricultural enterprises in Hawaii by authorizing the Department of Budget and Finance to issue special purpose revenue bonds for their benefit.

Alexander & Baldwin, Inc.; Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; Hawaii Aquaculture & Aquaponics Association; and Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii testified in support of this measure.  The Department of Agriculture supported the intent of this bill.  Hawaii BioEnergy, LLC, supported the measure with a proposed amendment.  The Department of Budget and Finance offered comments.  

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     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. 737, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 737, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

JESSICA WOOLEY, Chair