STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2631

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2397

       S.D. 2

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2397, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to require the High Technology Development Corporation (HTDC) to establish an agricultural technology park.

     In establishing the agricultural technology park, the HTDC is charged with the following responsibilities:

     (1)  Securing investments in agricultural state facilities;

     (2)  Providing jobs for rural communities;

     (3)  Supporting agricultural tourism; and

     (4)  Promoting agricultural products.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from Sugarland Growers and one individual.  The Department of Agriculture and the High Technology Development Corporation submitted written comments.

     Your Committee finds that an agricultural technology park will encourage agricultural innovation and support businesses in the agriculture industry.  Your Committee further notes that the High Technology Development Corporation has requested funding for the resources necessary to establish the technology park.

     Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Appropriating an unspecified amount of funds for the establishment of the agricultural technology park;

     (2)  Clarifying that the purpose of the agricultural technology park includes building relationships and promoting collaboration between the agricultural and technology sectors to assist farmers and provide them with tools to succeed in the modern world;

     (3)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion; and

     (4)  Making technical nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2397, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2397, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair