STAND. COM. REP. NO.  663-20

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2020

 

RE:   H.B. No. 2035

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Water, Land, & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 2035 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO NON-AGRICULTURAL PARK LANDS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Set a deadline for the transfer of certain non-agricultural park lands from the Department of Land and Natural Resources to the Department of Agriculture; and

 

     (2)  Clarify that the care and production of pasture land constitutes "agricultural activities" for purposes of non-agricultural park lands.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Meadow Gold Dairies; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; Ponoholo Ranch Limited; Kapapala Ranch; Larry Jefts Farms, LLC; Barbed S Ranch LLC; McCandless Ranch; Ulupalakua Ranch; Maui County Farm Bureau; Hawaii Aquaculture & Aquaponics Association; Hawaii Farm Bureau; Local Food Coalition; Hawaii Crop Improvement Association; Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii; a petition signed by numerous individuals and one organization; and twelve individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Ahahui Malama I Ka Lokahi; Nature Conservancy; Sierra Club of Hawaii; American Bird Conservancy; Conservation Council for Hawaii; Ka Makani O Kohala Ohana; and numerous individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture; The Wildlife Society, Hawaii Chapter; and one individual.

 

     Your Committee finds that Act 90, Session Laws of Hawaii 2003, required the transfer of certain non-agricultural park lands from the Department of Land and Natural Resources to the Department of Agriculture.  However, this transfer has yet to occur.  This measure effectuates the transfer of those lands by requiring the Department of Land and Natural Resources to complete the transfer of the identified non-agricultural park lands by June 30, 2020.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

 

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2035, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2035, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water, Land, & Hawaiian Affairs,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair