STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1122

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 404

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 404, H.D. 2, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to promote and sustain agricultural endeavors in the State.

 

     Specifically, this measure appropriates funds to the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation to conduct agricultural research and development.

 

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Department of Agriculture; the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawaii; the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation; the Maui County Farm Bureau; the Hawaii Agriculture Research Center; the Hawaii Aquaculture Association; Alexander and Baldwin, Inc.; the Hawaiian Commercial and Sugar Company; the Kauai Coffee Company, Inc.; and the Hawaii Crop Improvement Association.

 

     Agriculture research is essential to the success of diversified agriculture in Hawaii.  The knowledge gained through research efforts helps producers boost their yields through informed choices about which crops and varieties to plant, when and where to plant them, how to protect them from pests, and how to optimize post-harvest quality.  Agricultural research assists in increasing local food production, improving the State's food security, and assists Hawaii's producers to compete in local and export markets.

 

     The Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation is a nonprofit organization that works to resolve the problems that many farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural producers face in Hawaii.  The Bureau represents, protects, and advances the social, economic, and educational interests of Hawaii's agricultural sector.  Your Committee finds that appropriating funds to the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation will facilitate research that will support the continued expansion of diversified agriculture and help create new local, national, and international marketing opportunities for Hawaii agricultural goods.

 

     It was indicated to your Committee in submitted testimony that Hawaii's agricultural research programs recently lost federal earmarks during the fiscal year 2006-2007, and an appropriation of $2,000,000 to the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation will increase the availability funds for which research programs can continue to compete for national grants until federal funding is restored.  Your Committee believes that the appropriation amount should be increased to $2,000,000, but emphasizes that the appropriation should only be for fiscal year 2007-2008, until federal earmarks are restored.

 

     Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Deleting the blank appropriation amount for fiscal year 2007-2008, and adding the amount of $2,000,000;

 

     (2)  Deleting the blank appropriation amount for fiscal year 2008-2009;

 

     (3)  Changing the effective date of this measure from July 1, 2020, to July 1, 2007; and

 

     (4)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of style and consistency.

 

     Your Committee believes that this measure, as amended, fulfills the intent of this measure, which is to promote and sustain agricultural endeavors in the State.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 404, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 404, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

 

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

 

 

 

____________________________

RUSSELL S. KOKUBUN, Chair