STAND. COM. REP. NO.  707

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2019

 

RE:   H.B. No. 938

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 938 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for the Department of Agriculture to provide grants and loans to ranchers and farmers negatively affected by natural disasters through an Agricultural Disaster Funds Program.

 

     The Hawaii County Council Members for District 5 and 9, Hawaii County Department of Research and Development, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Hawaii Farmers Union, Hawaii Crop Improvement Association, Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii, Hawaii Coffee Association, Local Food Coalition, Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Hawaii Floriculture and Nursery Association, Hawaii Farmers Union United Haleakala, Lokea Farms, Hawaii Center for Food Safety, Maui Chamber of Commerce, Maui Farmers Union United, and numerous individuals testified in support of this measure.  The Department of Agriculture commented on this measure.

 

     Your Committee notes that the Department of Agriculture, in its written testimony, recommends that the funding be placed in the Agricultural Loan Program, which already has available staffing as well as an Emergency Loan Program with existing statutes and rules to carry out the intent in a timely manner.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2150; and

 

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

 

     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. 938, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 938, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

RICHARD P. CREAGAN, Chair