STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1222-04

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2004

RE: S.B. No. 3051

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 3051, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to:

(1) Establish a state Agricultural Land Protection Program (Program) for the voluntary acquisition of agricultural easements on lands identified as important agricultural lands;

(2) Support continued growth of Hawaii's agricultural industry by appropriating funds to the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation for agricultural research and market development; and

(3) Appropriate funds to the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources of the University of Hawaii at Manoa (CTAHR) for:

(A) Research and development of high-value agricultural products and practices;

(B) Programs to help revitalize Hawaii's cattle industry;

(C) Healthy food and nutrition programs; and

(D) Bioremediation research and testing.

The Hawaii Farm Bureau supported this bill. The Pineapple Growers Association of Hawaii and Maui County Farm Bureau supported parts II and III of this bill. The Board of Advisors of CTAHR, Nalo Farms, Big Island Candies, Hawaiian Host Chocolates, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, HPC Foods, Ltd., Green Point Nurseries, and several individuals supported part III of this bill. The Department of Agriculture, CTAHR, and Hawaii Agriculture Research Center supported the intent of this bill. The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism opposed this bill.

Your Committee has concerns regarding the fiscal impact that the tax incentives in this bill could have on the State's economy. Your Committee is also concerned that the Program will require additional resources to be properly managed and administered.

Your Committee has amended this bill by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2010, to facilitate further discussion; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive changes for purposes of style and clarity.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3051, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3051, S.D. 2,

H.D. 1.

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

 

____________________________

DWIGHT Y. TAKAMINE, Chair