STAND. COM. REP. NO.  272

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

 

RE:   H.B. No. 483

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committees on Agriculture and Water & Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 483 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TARO LANDS,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to require the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) and the Department of Agriculture (DOA) to work with the Taro Security and Purity Task Force to identify taro lands, adjust lease rents, and modify lease qualification criteria.

 

     The Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs and numerous individuals testified in support of this measure.  The Department of Agriculture testified in opposition to this measure.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources and an individual provided comments on this measure.

    

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Specifying that the DLNR, DOA, and the Taro Security and Purity Task Force shall work together to expeditiously identify and transfer to DOA potential taro-growing lands held by DLNR;

 

     (2)  With respect to the cap to be set on lease rent for taro farms, leaving the applicable dollar amount per acre unspecified;

 

     (3)  Including the identification and protection of ancient taro varieties, production lands, and infrastructure within forest reserves as within the scope of the work to be completed by DOA, DLNR, and the Taro Security and Purity Task Force;

 

     (4)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2020, to encourage further discussion; and

 

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

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Water & Land that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 483, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 483, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Agriculture and Water & Land,

 

 

____________________________

CINDY EVANS, Chair

 

____________________________

JESSICA WOOLEY, Chair