STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1575

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   S.B. No. 753

      S.D. 2

      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 Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 753, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to, among other things:

     (1)  Authorize the Department of Agriculture to enter into leases and other land transactions with the Agribusiness Development Corporation (ADC) for food production or organic livestock feed development;

     (2)  Create a Food Production and Organic Livestock Feed Development Mobilization Program under the ADC, with assistance from the High Technology Development Corporation, to encourage organic food production and organic livestock feed development and authorize the High Technology Development Corporation to provide assistance under the programs; and

     (3)  Exempt the ADC from certain qualifying provisions to receive non-agricultural park lands for growing food or developing organic livestock feed.

The Agribusiness Development Corporation provided testimony in support of this measure.  An individual provided testimony in opposition to this measure.  The High Technology Development Corporation provided comments on this measure.

     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 S.B. No. 753, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair