STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1023

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

 

RE:   S.B. No. 512

      S.D. 2

 

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred S.B. No. 512, S.D. 2, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to provide Hawaii farmers access to an online interface to develop and obtain conservation plans that are necessary to seek Federal Farm Bill funding and comply with county grading and grubbing ordinances by:

 

(1)  Establishing the Hawaii One Plan Steering Committee (Steering Committee) to assist in the development and implementation of the Hawaii One Plan, a primary computer-based soil and water conservation plan application system;

 

(2)  Requiring the Steering Committee to submit reports on the funding status and implementation progress of the Hawaii One Plan to the Legislature prior to the convening of the 2016 and 2017 Regular Sessions; and

 

(3)  Appropriating funds for the implementation and operation of the Hawaii One Plan Program.

 


     The Hawaii Association of Conservation Districts, Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc., Larry Jefts Farm, LLC, Hawaii Farmers Union United, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, and a few concerned individuals supported this measure.  The Ulupono Initiative and Oahu Resource Conservation & Development Council supported this measure with amendments.  The Department of Agriculture and Office of Information Practices provided comments.

 

     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 S.B. No. 512, S.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

CLIFT TSUJI, Chair