STAND. COM. REP. NO.  333

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   H.B. No. 1015

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 1015 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish a grant program within the Agribusiness Development Corporation to provide financial support for agriculture-related improvements to existing and emerging farms and agribusiness operations.

The Department of Agriculture, Agribusiness Development Corporation, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Hawaii Farmers Union United, and numerous individuals testified in support of this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing its effective date to July 31, 2150, to facilitate further discussion; and

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

     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. 1015, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1015, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

RICHARD P. CREAGAN, Chair