CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 122

Honolulu, Hawaii

                 , 2015

RE:    S.B. No. 1060

       S.D. 2

       H.D. 1

       C.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Madam and Sir:

     Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 1060, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL LOANS,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish a low interest biosecurity loan program to assist the livestock industry.

     Your Committee on Conference finds that Hawaii's livestock industry is economically and culturally significant and livestock operations are susceptible to the introduction of pests and diseases that can affect the health and welfare of the animals, and in some cases may affect the health and well-being of people who come in contact with the animals or farm products.  Biosecurity measures serve to protect the health of poultry and livestock and are increasingly being required by federal programs to ensure a safe food supply.  While these measures help protect the farm and consumers, they often do not result in additional profits for the operation; therefore low interest loans will assist livestock operations to ensure the sustainability of Hawaii's livestock industry.

     Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by inserting an effective date of July 1, 2015.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1060, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1060, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ CLIFT TSUJI, Co-Chair	____________________________ RUSSELL E. RUDERMAN, Chair
____________________________ RICHARD H.K. ONISHI, Co-Chair	____________________________ GIL RIVIERE, Co-Chair