STAND. COM. REP. NO.  752-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   H.B. No. 1931

      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. 1931, 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 help protect Hawaii's macadamia-nut industry by appropriating funds for:

     (1)  The Department of Agriculture to research and develop methods for the prevention and treatment of macadamia felted coccid in cooperation with the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources of the University of Hawaii at Manoa; and

(2)  The College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources of the University of Hawaii at Manoa to research and develop methods for the prevention and treatment of macadamia felted coccid in cooperation with the Department of Agriculture.

The Department of Agriculture; ILWU Local 142; Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation; OK Farms LLC; Kau Farms; Edmund C. Olson Trust II; Royal Hawaiian Orchards LP; Royal Hawaiian Services, LP; and several concerned individuals testified in support of this measure.  The College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources of the University of Hawaii at Manoa 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. 1931, 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