STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2076

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2803

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Water, Land, and Agriculture, to which was referred S.B. No. 2803 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE AGRICULTURAL LOAN REVOLVING FUND,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to provide additional funding to the state agricultural loan program in order to meet the demand of a growing agricultural sector.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, and Hawaii Cattlemens Council.

     Your Committee finds that increased funding to the state agricultural loan program will allow for additional farming operations due to the recent purchase of the Galbraith lands and other state projects statewide.  With additional resources, the State will be able to continue its growth of import replacement and food sustainability.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Inserting a new section to appropriate funds out of the agricultural loan revolving fund; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, and Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2803, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2803, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water, Land, and Agriculture,

________________________________

MIKE GABBARD, Chair