Proposes a constitutional amendment to require the State to conserve and protect open lands.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. Article XI, section 3, of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii is amended to read as follows:

"OPEN AND AGRICULTURAL LANDS

Section 3. The State shall conserve and protect open lands and agricultural lands, promote diversified agriculture, increase agricultural self-sufficiency and assure the availability of agriculturally suitable lands. The legislature shall provide standards and criteria to accomplish the foregoing.

Lands identified by the State as important open lands and agricultural lands needed to fulfill the purposes above shall not be reclassified by the State or rezoned by its political subdivisions without meeting the standards and criteria established by the legislature and approved by a two-thirds vote of the body responsible for the reclassification or rezoning action."

SECTION 2. The question to be printed on the ballot shall be as follows:

SECTION 3. New constitutional material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This amendment shall take effect upon compliance with article XVII, section 3, of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii.