STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1372-18

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2018

RE: S.B. No. 2085

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Agriculture and Economic Development & Business, to which was referred S.B. No. 2085, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to assist local farmers by establishing the Agribusiness Development Corporation Grant Program (Grant Program). Specifically, this measure:

(1) Provides grants for agriculture-related improvements to existing and emerging farms and agribusiness operations;

(2) Establishes parameters and restrictions for the expenditure of awarded grant moneys;

(3) Establishes the grant application process and qualifications and requirements for grant awardees; and

(4) Appropriates funds for the Grant Program.

The Agribusiness Development Corporation, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, Ulupono Initiative, Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii, Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, and Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc. supported this measure. The Department of Agriculture provided comments.

Your Committees have amended this measure by changing its effective date to July 1, 2150, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Economic Development & Business that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2085, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2085, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Agriculture and Economic Development & Business,

____________________________ CINDY EVANS, Chair

____________________________ RICHARD P. CREAGAN, Chair