STAND. COM. REP. NO.  569-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   H.B. No. 1534

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1534, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE INNOVATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to nurture agricultural innovation to develop a more significant food-focused agricultural industry by establishing the Agriculture Innovation Grant Program to fund start-up agricultural businesses developing innovations for:

     (1)  Feed production;

     (2)  Food waste recycling;

     (3)  On-farm energy efficiency;

     (4)  Soil health and conservation;

     (5)  Food production;

     (6)  Food processing; and

     (7)  Marketing for food products.

The College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources at the University of Hawaii, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Hawaii Farmers Union United, Kuahiwi Ranch, Energy Excelerator, Ulupono Initiative, and three concerned individuals testified in support of this measure.  The Department of Budget and Finance, High Technology Development Corporation, Ama, Hawaii Farm Bureau, and a concerned individual commented 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 H.B. No. 1534, 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