CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 89-18

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2018

RE: S.B. No. 1208

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sirs:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 1208, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to assist an agricultural enterprise by authorizing the issuance of special purpose revenue bonds not to exceed an unspecified amount to assist Twin Bridge Farms, Inc., in the purchase of agricultural lands to be used for agricultural production.

Your Committee on Conference finds that the Governor has pledged to double local food production by 2020. Your Committee on Conference further finds that in order to achieve this goal, the State needs to support the growth of its local farming and ranching industries. In furtherance of the State's food production goals, your Committee on Conference finds it important to assist Twin Bridge Farms, Inc., a local farm known for producing high quality products, in purchasing additional lands to increase the farm's food production. The issuance of special purpose revenue bonds pursuant to this measure is in the public interest and constitutes assistance to agricultural enterprises under part X of chapter 39A, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Authorizing the issuance of special purpose revenue bonds in an amount not to exceed $9,000,000 to assist Twin Bridge Farms, Inc.; and

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2018.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1208, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1208, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ RICHARD P. CREAGAN Co-Chair	____________________________ MIKE GABBARD Chair
____________________________ TY J.K. CULLEN Co-Chair	____________________________ KARL RHOADS Co-Chair
	____________________________ GILBERT S.C. KEITH-AGARAN Co-Chair