HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

65

THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

Requesting the Department of Agriculture to study and make recommendations on how to increase compliance with the various requirements for agricultural lands and to prevent abuse of agricultural land leases.

 

 

 


WHEREAS, it is the State's responsibility under Article XI, Section 3, of the Hawaii State Constitution to conserve and protect agricultural lands, promote diversified agriculture, increase agricultural self-sufficiency, and assure the availability of agriculturally suitable lands; and

 

WHEREAS, Hawaii's agricultural production is insufficient to meet the State's food consumption needs, and this over-reliance on imported food creates critical issues for the State's health, safety and security, sustainable future, and preparedness in the event of future disaster, emergency, or crisis; and

 

WHEREAS, over the past few years, the State has made it a priority to shift toward sustainability in agriculture and to decrease the reliance on food imports; and

 

WHEREAS, state and federal programs offer various incentives and subsidies to promote agriculture, including low-interest loans, low water rates, affordable land leases, tax credits, and grants; and

 

WHEREAS, some individuals abuse the benefits provided to farmers by building unpermitted structures on agricultural lands, illegally selling their leases, or simply failing to use the land for agriculture; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirtieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2019, the Senate concurring, that the Department of Agriculture is requested to study and make recommendations on how to increase compliance with the various requirements for agricultural lands and to prevent abuse of agricultural land leases, including:

 

     (1)  Methods to increase the effectiveness of Department of Agriculture employees who inspect agricultural lands for noncomplying structures and uses, including enforcing provisions prohibiting individuals from living on agricultural lands and constructing illegal structures;

 

     (2)  Preventing other impermissible uses of lands within the agricultural district;

 

     (3)  Confiscating leases from individuals who have leased agricultural land from the State and allowed the land to remain uncultivated for extended periods;

 

     (4)  Stopping the illegal subleasing of agricultural leases; and

 

     (5)  Addressing other hindrances, issues, and policies that limit the Department of Agriculture's ability to address violations of agricultural requirements; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Agriculture is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2020; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

 

 

 

Report Title: 

Department of Agriculture; Study; Land Leases; Abuse; Compliance; Nonconforming Uses