STAND. COM. REP. NO.  90-16

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2016

RE:   H.B. No. 1982

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 1982 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE ISSUANCE OF SPECIAL PURPOSE REVENUE BONDS TO ASSIST BIG ISLAND DAIRY, LLC,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to assist Big Island Dairy, LLC, by authorizing the issuance of special purpose revenue bonds to finance the cost of operations of its dairy farm in Ookala on the island of Hawaii.

The Department of Agriculture, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Hawaii Foodservice Alliance LLC, Ulupono Initiative, and Big Island Dairy LLC supported this measure.  Animal Rights Hawaii and a concerned individual opposed this measure.  The Department of Budget and Finance submitted comments on this measure.

     Should the Committee on Finance deliberate this measure further, your Committee on Agriculture respectfully requests that it consider authorizing the issuance of special purpose revenue bonds in an amount not to exceed $10,000,000.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1982 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

CLIFT TSUJI, Chair