HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

THE TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE

REGULAR SESSION OF 2016

 

COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE

Rep. Clift Tsuji, Chair

Rep. Richard H.K. Onishi, Vice Chair

 

Rep. Tom Brower

Rep. Sam Satoru Kong

Rep. Romy M. Cachola

Rep. Takashi Ohno

Rep. Isaac W. Choy

Rep. James Kunane Tokioka

Rep. Lynn DeCoite

Rep. Justin H. Woodson

Rep. Ken Ito

Rep. Lauren Kealohilani Matsumoto

Rep. Derek S.K. Kawakami

Rep. Gene Ward

 

AMENDED NOTICE OF HEARING

 

DATE:

Thursday, February 04, 2016

TIME:

8:30 am

PLACE:

Conference Room 312

State Capitol

415 South Beretania Street

 

A M E N D E D  A G E N D A

 

The following measure(s) has been ADDED to the agenda:  HB 1982

The following measure(s) has been DELETED from the agenda:  HB1995, HB2077

 

 

HB 1539

Status

RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL WATER SUPPLY.

Appropriates moneys to the department of agriculture for planning and engineering studies and designs for construction of water source development, renewable energy sources for agricultural development and delivery, and a reservoir to service the agricultural lands surrounding Waimea.

 

AGR, WAL, FIN

HB 1596

Status

RELATING TO INVASIVE SPECIES.

Establishes the invasive species rapid response special fund within DLNR.  Establishes procedures for emergency declarations and expenditures.  Appropriates moneys.

 

AGR, EEP, FIN

HB 1984

Status

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Authorizes affordable employee housing for employees in the agricultural district.

 

AGR, HSG, FIN

 

 

 

HB 1996

Status

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Establishes a two-year Agricultural Theft Pilot Project in the Department of Agriculture to focus on investigating and prosecuting agricultural theft and agricultural vandalism in the County of Hawaii.  Appropriates funds.

 

AGR, JUD, FIN

HB 1997

Status

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Implements the recommendation of the Hawaii agriculture workforce advisory board to create an agriculture workforce development pipeline initiative to conduct training on all islands for teachers and school administrators in agricultural self-sufficiency.

 

AGR, LAB, FIN

HB 2045

Status

RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL LANDS.

Limits subdivisions of agricultural district lands to no more than five lots if the fee simple interest in any of the lots is being sold or otherwise transferred to anyone within the second degree of consanguinity of the landowner.

 

AGR, WAL, JUD

 

 

 

HB 2275

Status

AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF SPECIAL PURPOSE REVENUE BONDS TO ASSIST BIG ISLAND DAIRY, LLC.

Authorizes the issuance of special purpose revenue bonds up to $10,000,000 to assist Big Island Dairy LLC for the planning, design, and construction of new milking facilities. 

 

AGR, FIN

 

 

 

 

 

HB 1982

Status

RELATING TO THE ISSUANCE OF SPECIAL PURPOSE REVENUE BONDS TO ASSIST BIG ISLAND DAIRY, LLC.

Authorizes the issuance of special purpose revenue bonds to assist Big Island Dairy, LLC, with the operation of its dairy farm in Ookala.

 

AGR, FIN

HB 2424

Status

 

 

 

RELATING TO BIOSECURITY.

Requires DOA to establish or participate in private-public partnerships to enhance the biosecurity program and quarantine inspection process.  Appropriates funds.

 

 

AGR, CPC, FIN

HB 2542

Status

RELATING TO THE AUDITOR.

Directs the auditor to audit the plant quarantine branch of DOA to facilitate its transfer to DOT.

 

AGR, LMG, FIN

HB 2582

Status

RELATING TO FOOD SAFETY.

Requires the Department of Agriculture to develop and implement an Agricultural Food Safety Certification Program that concurrently complies with the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act as it applies to farmers and ranchers.  Authorizes and appropriates funds for program staff.

 

AGR, CPC, FIN

HB 2674

Status

RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL THEFT.

Establishes a two-year Agricultural Theft Pilot Project in the Department of Agriculture to focus on investigating and prosecuting agricultural theft and agricultural vandalism in the county of Hawaii.  Appropriates funds to the Department of Agriculture.

 

AGR, JUD, FIN

HB 2676

Status

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Establishes, within CTAHR's agribusiness incubator program, a five-year energy independent farming community pilot project.  Appropriations.

 

AGR, HED, FIN

 

 

 

HB 1995

Status

RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES.

Requires the PUC to establish preferential rates for the purchase of energy that is used or consumed for agricultural activities.  Requires the PUC to require electric and gas utilities to develop energy storage technology incentive programs to provide incentives to agricultural customers to acquire energy storage technology for use at the agricultural customers' sites.

 

AGR, EEP, FIN

HB 2077

Status

RELATING TO HYDROELECTRIC POWER.

Permits hydroelectric facilities on Agricultural District lands that are considered small hydropower facilities under federal law.

 

AGR, EEP/WAL, CPC

 

 

 

 

DECISION MAKING TO FOLLOW

 

Persons wishing to offer comments should submit testimony at least 24 hours prior to the hearing.  Testimony should indicate:

·     Testifier's name with position/title and organization;

·     The Committee(s) to which the comments are directed;

·     The date and time of the hearing; and

·     Measure number. 

 

While every effort will be made to incorporate all testimony received, materials received on the day of the hearing or improperly identified or directed, may be distributed to the Committee after the hearing.

 

Submit testimony in ONE of the following ways:

PAPER:  1 copies (including an original) to Room 441 in the State Capitol;

WEB:     For testimony less than 10MB in size, transmit from http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/submittestimony.aspx.

 

Testimony submitted will be placed on the legislative website.  This public posting of testimony on the website should be considered when including personal information in your testimony.

 

If during the course of the hearing it appears that there will not be sufficient time to allow everyone to be heard, the chairperson reserves the right to limit testifiers to two minutes. This two minute policy will be enforced to ensure fairness and adequate consideration of all measures.

 

If you require special assistance or auxiliary aids and/or services to participate in the House public hearing process (i.e., sign or foreign language interpreter or wheelchair accessibility), please contact the Committee Clerk at 586-8480 or email your request for an interpreter to [email protected] at least 24 hours prior to the hearing for arrangements.  Prompt requests submitted help to ensure the availability of qualified individuals and appropriate accommodations.

 

Selected meetings are broadcast live.  Check the current legislative broadcast schedule on the "Capitol TV" website at www.capitoltv.org or call 536-2100.

 

 

 

 

________________________________________

Rep. Clift Tsuji

Chair