Bill Text: HI HB947 | 2012 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Agriculture; Natural Farming; Grants

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-12-01 - Carried over to 2012 Regular Session. [HB947 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2012-HB947-Amended.html

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STAND. COM. REP. NO.  271

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2011

 

RE:   H.B. No. 947

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committees on Agriculture and International Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 947 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to support farmers who implement the Cho global natural farming methodology by requiring the Department of Agriculture (DOA) to establish the Natural Farming Grant Program.

 

     Partners in Development Foundation and numerous concerned individuals supported this bill.  DOA supported the intent of this measure.

 

     Your Committees note that this measure contains a provision establishing an unspecified limit on the dollar amount of grants that may be awarded under the Program.  Your Committees will continue to work to determine an appropriate "cap" for the grant awards.  In addition, your Committees note that existing programs such as the New Farmer Loan Program, which provides low-interest loans to qualified applicants, offer another funding source for farmers interested in natural farming.

 

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2020, to encourage further discussion; and

 

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

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and International Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 947, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 947, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Agriculture and International Affairs,

 

 

____________________________ KAREN L. AWANA, Chair		____________________________ CLIFT TSUJI, Chair