STAND. COM. REP. NO.  711-08

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

 

RE:   H.B. No. 2361

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committees on Water, Land, Ocean Resources & Hawaiian Affairs and Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 2361 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to define state agricultural lands and designate state agricultural lands as "important agricultural lands."

 

     The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) and the Office of Planning (OP) submitted testimony in support of the intent of this measure with amendments.  The Department of Agriculture (DOA) submitted comments.

 

     DLNR and OP agreed that it would be better for both departments to collaboratively identify the public lands that should be designated as important agricultural lands.  This will enable agricultural experts to participate in the review process.

 

     Your Committees find that the State should take the lead in designating public lands that are situated in the agricultural district as important agricultural lands.  The intention is that the State's effort in this regard will serve as an example to private landowners and encourage them to similarly designate their lands.

 

     Upon further consideration, your Committees have amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Requiring DOA and DLNR to collaboratively identify public lands that should be designated as important agricultural lands;

 

     (2)  Requiring DOA and DLNR to use the existing standards and criteria under section 205‑44, Hawaii Revised Statutes;

 

     (3)  Providing that the designation of important agricultural lands by the departments shall not be subject to the district boundary amendment procedures of the Land Use Law or the declaratory order procedures of the Important Agricultural Lands Law; and

 

     (4)  Requiring DOA to manage, administer, and exercise control over public lands that are designated as important agricultural lands pursuant to this measure.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water, Land, Ocean Resources & Hawaiian Affairs and Agriculture that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2361, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2361, H.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Water, Land, Ocean Resources & Hawaiian Affairs and Agriculture,

 

 

____________________________

CLIFT TSUJI, Chair

 

____________________________

KEN ITO, Chair