STAND. COM. REP. NO. 951

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 1999

                                   RE:  H.B. No. 557
                                        H.D. 2




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Economic Development, to which was
referred H.B. No. 557, H.D. 2, entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR TROPICAL
     FLOWER RESEARCH AND PROGRAMS,"

begs leave to report as follows:
     
     The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds in
support of tropical flower research, marketing, and pesticide
screening.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure
from the Department of Agriculture, the University of Hawaii
College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, the Hawaii
Farm Bureau Federation, the Hawaii Tropical Flower Council, the
Hawaii Florists' and Shippers' Association, Hawaii Agriculture
Research Center, the Big Island Dendrobium Grower's Association,
and the Hawaii Export Nursery Association.

     Your Committee finds that the Hawaii floriculture and
nursery products industry ranks as the number one diversified
agricultural industry, with annual sales in the $40,000,000
range.  Orchids alone generated $16,000,000 in sales in 1996, and
for many people are synonymous with Hawaii.  Your Committee is
supportive of this industry and the benefits it provides both for
economic development, as well as for the image of Hawaii it
promotes the world over.


 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 951
                                   Page 2


     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Economic Development that is attached to this
report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose
of H.B. No. 557, H.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Second
Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Economic
                                   Development,



                                   ______________________________
                                   LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair

 
a                                                     HB557 HD2