STAND. COM. REP. 333

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: H.B. No. 1401

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 1401 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to amend Act 188, Session Laws of Hawaii 2000 (Act 188), by extending the lapse date of the authorization to issue special purpose revenue bonds (SPRBs) for Hawaii Gold Cacao Tree, Inc., (HGCT) to June 30, 2005.

HGCT, a council member of the County of Hawaii, Hawaii Agriculture Research Center, Hakalua Farm & Nursery, and several concerned citizens testified in support of the bill. The Department of Agriculture supported the intent of this bill.

Your Committee notes that under Act 188, the Legislature authorized the issuance of $10,000,000 in SPRBs for HGCT, to establish a processing facility to process cacao beans. Your Committee recognizes that the effects of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on international trade and shipment of equipment have led to unavoidable delays in the establishment of this facility. By extending the lapse date of the authorization to issue SPRBs, this measure allows HGCT the additional time needed to carry out the provisions of Act 188 and establish the processing facility.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1401 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture,

 

____________________________

FELIPE P. ABINSAY, JR., Chair