STAND. COM. REP. NO. 709

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                

 

RE:    S.B. No. 1248

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1248 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL ENTERPRISES,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to support the proliferation of viable agricultural enterprises in the State.

 

Specifically, the measure:

 

     (1)  Supports and promotes agriculture by authorizing the Department of Agriculture to plan, design, construct, operate, manage, maintain, repair, demolish, and remove infrastructure on any lands under the department's jurisdiction;

 

     (2)  Establishes the Agricultural Enterprise Program to manage transferred agricultural enterprise land and agricultural enterprises;

 

     (3)  Establishes the agricultural enterprise special fund; and

 

     (4)  Requires the Board of Agriculture to provide an annual report to the Legislature on non-agricultural park lessees.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; University of Hawaii; Happy Heart Kona, LLC; East Oahu County Farm Bureau; Hawaii Agriculture Research Center; Hawaii Aquaculture and Aquaponics Association; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council; Hawaii Farm Bureau; Hydroponics Alternatives, LLC; Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii; Larry Jefts Farms, LLC; Local Food Coalition; MetroGrow Hawaii; Ponoholo Ranch Limited; Ulupono Initiative; and six individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that this measure will help support diversified agriculture, provide needed assistance to agriculture-related operations, and expand the State's agricultural industry.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1248, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1248, S.D. 1.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

 

 

 

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair