STAND. COM. REP. NO.393

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: S.B. No. 1258

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water, Land, and Agriculture, to which was referred S.B. No. 1258 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 retain the selection process for the Agribusiness Development Corporation (ADC) Board.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Agribusiness Development Corporation, Kauai County Farm Bureau, East Kauai Water Users' Cooperative, Gay & Robinson, Inc., Pineapple Growers Association of Hawaii, Hawaii Agriculture Research Center, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Maui County Farm Bureau, Hawaiian Commercial and Sugar Company, and the Hawaii Egg Producers Association.

Your Committee finds that, according to current statute, effective July 1, 2005, the composition of the ADC board will consist entirely of members of the Board of Agriculture (BOA). The DOA has different functions from the ADC. BOA members function more as a review committee and deal primarily with regulatory and agriculture park issues, while the ADC board functions as a work group to deal with transitional issues. Currently, the ADC board members are selected and appointed by the Governor based on their knowledge, experience, and expertise in agriculture, marketing, banking, finance, real estate, and management.

Your Committee also finds that this measure will enable the ADC and Hawaii's agriculture industry to benefit from the expertise and pro bono work of professionals and executives. The current ADC board has been proven effective in acquiring, operating, maintaining, and repairing the Waiahole Ditch; solving transitional issues related to 28,000 acres of land at Kekaha, Kauai; initiating the establishment of an agriculture subdivision on private lands on the Hamakua coast; and beginning the work of a state-wide marketing program for Hawaii's agricultural products. The ADC's recent accomplishments demonstrate that it is able to meet the challenges of the agricultural transition occurring in this State and deserves the expression of support shown by this measure in assuring its longevity.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, and Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1258 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water, Land, and Agriculture,

____________________________

LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair