CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 229-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.B. No. 2473

S.D. 2

H.D. 2

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

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. 2473, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT,"

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:

(1) Transfer the administrative attachment of the Agribusiness Development Corporation from the Department of Agriculture to the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism;

(2) Allow the Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to amend the duties, qualifications, and salaries of Agribusiness Development Corporation employees who are exempt from civil service and transferred pursuant to this measure;

(3) Amend the focus, scope, responsibilities, and powers of the Agribusiness Development Corporation;

(4) Amend the requirements and responsibilities of the Board of Directors of the Agribusiness Development Corporation;

(5) Specify the required contents of the Hawaii Agribusiness Plan; and

(6) Appropriate funds.

Your Committee on Conference finds that the goals and objectives of the Agribusiness Development Corporation (ADC) better align with the general mission of the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism (DBEDT). Your Committee on Conference notes that this measure will not only promote economic diversification, but also acknowledges agriculture's key role in the economic recovery of the State in the post-coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic future.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that the newly established position to provide accounting and other fiscal support services to the ADC shall be for one full-time equivalent permanent accountant V position;

(2) Inserting appropriation amounts of:

(A) $100,000 for a consultant to assist ADC in preparing and finalizing the Hawaii Agribusiness Plan;

(B) $90,000 for one full-time equivalent permanent accountant V position; and

(C) $500,000 for security guard services to address trespassing, abandonment of vehicles on ADC land, and other security issues on vacant ADC land;

(3) Removing language that would have allowed the Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to amend the duties, qualifications, and salaries of Agribusiness Development Corporation employees who are exempt from civil service and transferred pursuant to this measure; and

(4) Making it effective on July 1, 2022.

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. 2473, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2473, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ MARK J. HASHEM Co-Chair	____________________________ GLENN WAKAI Chair
____________________________ KYLE T. YAMASHITA Co-Chair	____________________________ MIKE GABBARD Co-Chair
	____________________________ MICHELLE N. KIDANI Co-Chair