STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1689-16

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2016

RE:   S.B. No. 1374

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 2

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 1374, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LAND EXCHANGE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to fulfill the mandate of the Hawaii State Constitution to conserve and protect agricultural lands, promote diversified agriculture, increase agricultural self-sufficiency, and assure the availability of agriculturally suitable lands by requiring the Department of Agriculture to negotiate land exchanges with Dole Food Company, Inc. to acquire lands that are suitable for long-term diversified agricultural production.  

The Department of Land and Natural Resources and Agribusiness Development Corporation provided testimony in support of the measure.  The Department of Agriculture provided comments.  

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1374, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair