STAND. COM. REP. NO.  198-08

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

 

RE:   H.B. No. 2085

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committees on Agriculture and Economic Development & Business Concerns, to which was referred H.B. No. 2085 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE AGRIBUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to improve the effectiveness and decision-making of the Agribusiness Development Corporation (ADC) by:

 

     (1)  Attaching it administratively to the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism (DBEDT), instead of the Department of Agriculture (DOA);

 

     (2)  Statutorily requiring DBEDT to assist ADC in carrying out ADC's duties and obligations; and

 

     (3)  Requiring that at least four members of the Board of Directors of ADC have knowledge, experience, and expertise within the fields of retail, wholesale, and distribution involving agricultural products; packaging and processing of agricultural products; transportation and shipping of agricultural products; or venture capital involving agricultural businesses.


 

     DBEDT did not support this measure.  DOA, ADC, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Hawaii Aquaculture Association, Maui County Farm Bureau, Hawaii Crop Improvement Association, Hawaii Agriculture Research Center, East Kauai Water Users' Cooperative, and several concerned individuals opposed this bill.  A concerned individual submitted comments.

 

     In light of the concerns raised by various testifiers during the public hearing, your Committees have amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Deleting the provision attaching ADC to DBEDT;

 

     (2)  Deleting the provision statutorily requiring DBEDT to assist ADC in carrying out ADC's duties and obligations; and

 

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

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Economic Development & Business Concerns that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2085, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2085, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Agriculture and Economic Development & Business Concerns,

 

 

____________________________

KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair

 

____________________________

CLIFT TSUJI, Chair