STAND. COM. REP. NO. 811

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 352

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 352 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE AGRICULTURAL LOAN REVOLVING FUND,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to supplement the agricultural loan revolving fund and to appropriate moneys out of the revolving fund.

 

     Specifically this measure:

 

(1)  Appropriates $5,000,000 out of the general revenues of the State for fiscal year 2017-2018 to be deposited into the agricultural loan revolving fund established under section 155-14, Hawaii Revised Statutes; and

 

(2)  Appropriates $5,000,000 out of the agricultural loan revolving fund for fiscal year 2017-2018 for loans in accordance with section 155-14, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Ulupono Initiative, Hawaii Farm Bureau, and Hawaii Cattlemen's Council.

 

     Your Committee finds that the Department of Agriculture's agricultural loan program was established to assist farmers in starting new or expanding existing farm operations.  However, the program lacks sufficient capital to fully implement its goals and objectives.  Your Committee finds that additional funding is necessary to support the agricultural loan program and help the State progress toward its food production and sustainability goals.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

(1)  Changing the amount appropriated out of the general revenues of the State for fiscal year 2017-2018 to be deposited into the agricultural loan revolving fund from $5,000,000 to an unspecified amount;

 

(2)  Changing the amount appropriated out of the agricultural loan revolving fund from $5,000,000 to an unspecified amount; and

 

(3)  Changing the effective date to March 9, 2092, to facilitate further discussion of the measure.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 352, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 352, S.D. 1.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

 

 

 

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair