STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1825-18

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2018

RE: S.B. No. 3087

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 Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 3087, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE AGRIBUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to improve the quality and marketability of Hawaiian papayas by appropriating funds to the Agribusiness Development Corporation to fund the United States Department of Agriculture Pacific Basin Agriculture Research Center's efforts to:

(1) Identify factors that affect the quality of local papayas;

(2) Develop and establish protocols to enhance the marketability of Hawaiian papayas; and

(3) Work with the Hawaii Papaya Industry Association member exporters to follow the flow of fruit from Hawaii fields through the treatment and packing process to the customer to identify the problems and areas that need attention, improvement, and further research.

This measure also requires the Auditor to conduct a management and financial audit of the Agribusiness Development Corporation and submit a report to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2020.

The Hawaii Papaya Industry Association supported this measure. The Agribusiness Development Corporation opposed this measure. The Department of Agriculture and Hawai‘i Farm Bureau 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. 3087, 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