Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1531, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to transfer the powers, duties, and authority relating to the disposition of public agricultural lands from the Department of Land and Natural Resources to the Department of Agriculture.

Your Committee finds the disposition of Hawaii's public agricultural land requires unique considerations not applicable to the disposition of other public lands. Hawaii's agriculture industry has expressed its concern that the existing administration and management of public agricultural lands does not take into consideration the concerns and needs of the agriculture industry.

Since it is the responsibility of the Department of Agriculture to conserve and protect agricultural lands and ensure the availability of lands suitable for agriculture, your Committee believes that transferring responsibilities relating to the disposition of agricultural public lands to the Department of Agriculture will ensure that Hawaii's public agricultural lands receive thoughtful and appropriate consideration in connection with any disposition.

Your Committee has amended this bill by making technical nonsubstantive changes.

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. 1531, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1531, S.D. 2.