STAND. COM. REP. NO.  305-16

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2016

 

RE:   H.B. No. 2546

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 2546 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to support certain agricultural practices by establishing an Agriculture Grant Program (Program) and a special fund for the Program to provide grants to qualifying farmers for:

 

(1)  Expanding farm operations and productivity;

 

(2)  Changing or adding crops;

 

(3)  Investing in food safety; and

 

(4)  Providing for workforce development.

 

     The Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, and two concerned individuals supported this measure.  The Department of Agriculture supported the intent of this measure.  The Department of Budget and Finance submitted comments on this measure.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Deleting the amount of the appropriation;

 

(2)  Changing its effective date to January 20, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

 

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

 

     Should your Committee on Finance deliberate on this measure further, your Committee on Agriculture respectfully requests that it consider appropriating $5,000,000 for the Program.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2546, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2546, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

CLIFT TSUJI, Chair