STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1665

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   S.B. No. 612

      S.D. 2

      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 Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 612, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to support the livestock industry by:

     (1)  Making housekeeping amendments to the Livestock Revitalization Program;

     (2)  Appropriating funds to the Department of Agriculture for the feed developer grant program and reimbursements to qualified producers for feed costs; and

     (3)  Authorizing general obligation bonds for the planning, designing, and purchasing of a livestock feed mill.

The Department of Agriculture, Agribusiness Development Corporation, Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Maui County Farm Bureau, and Ulupono Initiative testified in support of this measure.  The Department of the Attorney General and Meadow Gold Dairies provided comments.

     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 S.B. No. 612, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair