STAND. COM. REP. NO.  239-08

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

 

RE:   H.B. No. 2453

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 2453 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TARO,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to preserve the cultural legacy of taro farming for future generations by requiring the Department of Agriculture (DOA) to:

 

(1)  Develop and implement a taro farming grant program to assist taro farmers; and

 

     (2)  Appropriate funds for the program.

 

     The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Maui County Farm Bureau, Hawaii Crop Improvement Association, and the Hawaiian Political Action Council of Hawaii supported this bill.  DOA and the Hawaii Agriculture Research Center supported the intent of this measure. The University of Hawaii did not support this bill.  Several concerned individuals submitted comments.

 

     Your Committee is aware of the existing on-going dialogue between state agencies and taro farmers and other interested stakeholders.  This measure is not intended to interfere with these collaborative discussions.  Instead, the intent of this measure is to provide additional resources to support, preserve, and protect taro and taro farming in the state.


 

     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. 2453 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

CLIFT TSUJI, Chair