STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1044

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   S.B. No. 993

      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 Committees on Agriculture and Economic Development & Business, to which was referred S.B. No. 993, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL LOANS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to support local farming by expanding the agricultural loan program offered by the Department of Agriculture to include a new loan for farm innovations and expanded eligibility for the new farmer loan.

The Department of Agriculture, Ulupono Initiative, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, and one individual testified in support of this measure.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1)  Authorizing the Department to issue a new class of loans for biosecurity projects and making necessary conforming amendments to existing statutes; and

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

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Economic Development & Business that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 993, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 993, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Agriculture and Economic Development & Business,

____________________________ CLIFT TSUJI, Chair

____________________________ JESSICA WOOLEY, Chair