STAND. COM. REP. NO.  725-18

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2018

 

RE:   H.B. No. 2632

      H.D. 2

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 2632, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOUSING ON AGRICULTURAL LAND,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to assist agricultural landowners to overcome the difficulty in recruiting and retaining farmworkers due to the shortage of affordable housing for farmworkers and farm employees by allowing the building of farm dwellings and employee housing for farmers and farmworkers and their immediate family members on agricultural lands, subject to specified requirements and restrictions.  

 

     The Hawaii Island Economic Development Board, Hawaii Leeward Planning Conference, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc., Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, and three concerned individuals supported this measure.  The City and County of Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting, County of Maui Department of Planning, and a concerned individual opposed this measure.  The Department of Agriculture, Office of Planning, Land Use Commission, County of Hawaii Planning Department, and Life of the Land submitted comments on this measure.


 

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

(1)  Changing its effective date to July 31, 2150, to encourage further discussion; and

 

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

 

     Your Committee notes that the Land Use Commission, Office of Planning, County of Hawaii Planning Department, and Life of the Land expressed concerns regarding this measure including issues relating to:

 

     (1)  The need for clarification in the scope and applicability of employee housing and farm dwellings, including the permissibility of short-term vacation rentals;

 

     (2)  The resources necessary and the capabilities required of the enforcing agencies to monitor and enforce compliance with the requirements, conditions, and restrictions allowing employee housing and farm dwellings, including ascertaining familial relationships; and

 

     (3)  Protecting agricultural lands from being subdivided for residential use and gentlemen farmer estates.

 

     Your Committee on Finance may deem it appropriate to address these concerns, should it deliberate on this measure.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2632, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2632, H.D. 2.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

RICHARD P. CREAGAN, Chair