STAND. COM. REP. NO.  650

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

RE:   H.B. No. 1177

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1177 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to assist farmers and ranchers in applying for, obtaining, and fulfilling the requirements of grants offered by the United States Department of Agriculture by appropriating funds to establish one full-time grant writer position within the Department of Agriculture.

The Department of Agriculture, Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, and a concerned individual provided testimony in support of 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. 1177 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair