STAND. COM. REP. NO. 579

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2005

RE: H.B. No. 1688

H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 1688 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII COLLEGE OF TROPICAL AGRICULTURE AND HUMAN RESOURCES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to support agricultural research and diversity in the state by appropriating funds for the University of Hawaii (UH) College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR) to develop and promote high-value agricultural products, breeding programs, and related activities.

The Department of Agriculture, Board of Advisors of CTAHR, Aloun Farms, Big Island Candies, Inc., Hawaii Crop Improvement Association, Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Company, and Pineapple Growers Association of Hawaii testified in support of this bill. A concerned individual supported the intent of this measure. Several concerned individuals opposed this bill.

Your Committee has amended this bill by:

(1) Emphasizing the importance of sustaining these agricultural activities;

(2) Expanding the scope of the measure to include organic agriculture programs within the UH system, such as the Organic Agriculture Center at Leeward Community College, and appropriating funds;

(3) Changing to $1 the appropriation to develop and promote high-value agricultural products, breeding programs, and related activities, to encourage further discussion; and

(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

Your Committee notes that UH has requested the following funds for each year of the fiscal biennium:

(1) $500,000 for the development and promotion of high-value agricultural products, breeding programs, and related activities; and

(2) $500,000 to support organic agriculture programs within the UH system.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1688, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1688, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Higher Education,

 

____________________________

TOMMY WATERS, Chair