STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1126

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2021

 

RE:   H.R. No. 26

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.R. No. 26 entitled:

 

"HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO ESTABLISH A KONA AREA AGRICULTURAL WORKING GROUP TO PROMOTE AGRICULTURE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND HOUSING,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Urge the Department of Agriculture to form an inter-governmental Kona Area Agricultural Working Group to help navigate opportunities of agriculture, economic development, and affordable housing; and

 

     (2)  Request the Kona Area Agricultural Working Group, with the Department of Agriculture's assistance, to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature prior to the 2022 Regular Session.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Food Industry Association and one individual.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture.

 

     Your Committee finds that the island of Hawaii provides an abundance of opportunities to bring benefits to the community in the areas of agriculture, economic development, and affordable housing.  Your Committee recognizes that it takes a well-coordinated effort among governmental agencies to foster better outcomes in these areas.  This measure provides an impetus to further ongoing efforts to help navigate opportunities of agriculture, economic development, and affordable housing in the Kona area.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Amending its title to read:  "URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO ESTABLISH A KONA AREA AGRICULTURAL WORKING GROUP TO PROMOTE AGRICULTURE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING."; and

 

     (2)  Making other 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 Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 26, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.R. No. 26, H.D. 1.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

MARK J. HASHEM, Chair