CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. 101

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: S.B. No. 540

S.D. 1

H.D. 2

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. 540, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND 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 support agricultural research and market development, and pineapple research projects by appropriating funds to be expended by the Department of Agriculture.

Your Committee on Conference finds that both agricultural research and market development are essential to Hawaii's agricultural industry, which is an important component of Hawaii's economy. Research helps producers raise their yields through informed choices about which crops to plant, when and where to plant them, how to protect them from pests, and how to optimize post-harvest quality. Market development complements research by expanding the consumer base that knows and values Hawaii's agricultural products.

Your Committee on Conference also finds that pineapple research, in particular, needs to be singled out because the pineapple industry is a leader within Hawaii's agricultural sector and a strong component of the State's agricultural base, but is facing increased global competition. The pineapple industry requires continued research and development to ensure effective competition with countries that have lower labor, land, and water costs, with less stringent environmental requirements.

Your Committee on Conference has amended the measure to provide $800,000, in a grant-in-aid, to the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, which, in turn, will disburse funds to the Hawaii Agriculture Research Center for sugar and diversified agriculture research. Of that money, $500,000 will be earmarked for sugar research. The measure further appropriates $50,000 from general revenues of the State of Hawaii for pineapple research. The amended measure lists research projects for which the money can be used, but deletes the specified monetary allotments for each project. Due to the current fiscal crisis facing the State, your Committee on Conference amended the measure further by only appropriating funds for the 2003-2004 fiscal year.

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. 540, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 540, S.D. 1, 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

____________________________

FELIPE P. ABINSAY, JR., Co-Chair

____________________________

LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair

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MICHAEL Y. MAGAOAY, Co-Chair

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RUSSELL KOKUBUN, Co-Chair