STAND. COM. REP. NO.  844-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   H.B. No. 2008

      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. 2008 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to encourage youth in Hawaii to pursue agricultural careers by appropriating funds for the implementation and operation of the Future Farmers of America Program.

The Department of Agriculture; Department of Education; Local Food Coalition; Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii; Hawaii Farm Bureau; and Hawaii Cattlemen's Council testified in support of this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Making the appropriation in an unspecified amount;

     (2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2030, to encourage further discussion; and

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     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. 2008, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2008, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair