STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3318

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 482

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committees on Economic Development, Government Operations and Housing, Agriculture, and Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 482, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to prohibit the ability to claim expenditures for legal services under the important agricultural land qualified agricultural cost tax credit.

 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from five individuals.  Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii.

 

     Prior to the hearing on this measure, your Committees posted and made available for public review a proposed S.D. 1, which, in addition to appropriating funds to acquire certain Dole Food Company, Inc., lands, establishes the Whitmore project facility revenue bond special fund into which proceeds from revenue bonds shall be deposited for purchasing certain parcels of land from Dole Food Company, Inc.

 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of the proposed S.D. 1 from the Agribusiness Development Corporation, Hawaii Farm Bureau, and Sugarland Growers, Inc.  Your Committees received testimony in opposition to the proposed S.D. 1 from the Department of Agriculture and one individual.  Your Committees received comments on the proposed S.D. 1 from the Department of Budget and Finance.

 

     Your Committees find that in order for agriculture to flourish in Hawaii and reach its full potential, land availability and long-term leases at affordable and predictable lease rental rates are critical.  The acquisition of the certain parcels of land from Dole Food Company will significantly increase the acreage of available agricultural land under the State's control and will provide farmers with long-term leases that will enhance the economic viability of Hawaii's agriculture industry.

 

     Your Committees have amended this measure by replacing its contents with the contents of the proposed S.D. 1 and inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Economic Development, Government Operations and Housing, Agriculture, and Ways and Means that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 482, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 482, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Economic Development, Government Operations and Housing, Agriculture, and Ways and Means,

 

____________________________

CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair

 

____________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair

 

 

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair