STAND. COM. REP. 2842

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2004

RE: S.B. No. 3051

S.D. 2

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 3051, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to protect agricultural lands important to the State of Hawaii through the acquisition of agricultural easements.

Your Committee finds that article XI, section 3 of the Hawaii state constitution requires the State to conserve and protect agricultural lands and assure the long-term availability of agriculturally suitable lands. This measure establishes a Agricultural Land Protection Board. The primary role of the Board is to identify important agricultural lands and to acquire agricultural easements for those identified lands by paying any willing owner an amount determined to be equitable, but not to exceed the difference between the fair market value of the land and the fair market value of the land restricted to agricultural purposes. Funds for the purchase of these easements will come from an agricultural land protection fund into which will be deposited funds from state and federal appropriations or private grants.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Adding an appropriation to the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation for agricultural research and market development;

(2) Adding an appropriation to the University of Hawaii, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, for:

(a) The development of high value agricultural products;

(b) The revitalization of the cattle industry;

(c) A program to encourage greater production and consumption of healthy, safe, and locally grown food to improve the nutritional status of Pacific people and enhance Hawaii's food security; and

(d) Research and testing of sediments in the Ala Wai canal and other waterways as a component of the bioremedial program at the University of Hawaii's College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources;

and

(3) Making technical nonsubstantive changes for clarity and consistency.

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. 3051, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3051, S.D. 2.

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

____________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair