CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. 97

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: S.B. No. 1496

H.D. 1

C.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 1496, 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 extend the authorization of the Department of Budget and Finance to issue special purpose revenue bonds on behalf of Hawaii Gold Cacao Tree, Inc., from June 30, 2003, to June 30, 2005.

Your Committee on Conference finds that Hawaii Gold Cacao Tree's success with growing, processing, and marketing cacao beans in Hawaii gives hope to independent farmers who want to invest in this crop. Hawaii Gold Cacao Tree has been proactive in developing the commercial growth of seedlings and trees to support a processing facility, and its commitment to building a cacao processing and chocolate manufacturing facility in Hawaii gives farmers the assurance that they will have a local outlet for their product. Your Committee on Conference recognizes that the effect of September 11, 2001, on international trade and the shipment of equipment has led to unavoidable delays in establishing the processing facility.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing its effective date from "July 1, 2010", to "upon its approval".

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. 1496, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1496, 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

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FELIPE P. ABINSAY, JR., Co-Chair

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LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Co-Chair

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JON RIKI KARAMATSU, Co-Chair

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WILLIE C. ESPERO, Co-Chair

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RUSSELL KOKUBUN, Co-Chair