Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 3052, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish policies and procedures for identifying and managing important agricultural lands.

This bill also directs the Agribusiness Development Corporation to convene a task force to develop incentives to promote the viability of important agricultural lands. This bill further permits holiday or agriculture-related special event activities and agricultural tourism on agricultural land for the enjoyment, education, and involvement of visitors. Finally, the bill appropriates $2,000,000 to the counties as the State's share of the cost of mandated programs relating to important agricultural lands, and $100,000 to the Agribusiness Development Corporation to implement the measure.

Your Committee finds that there is a compelling need to fulfill the constitutional mandate to identify and protect important agricultural lands in the State. As an irreplaceable resource that is threatened by urbanization, agricultural lands must be preserved to ensure the future of agriculture in Hawaii. Your Committee finds that this measure provides the most comprehensive approach to meet those responsibilities.

Upon further consideration, your Committee has amended this bill to change all specific dollar amounts appropriated to unspecified amounts to facilitate further discussion. Your Committee has also made technical nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity 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. 3052, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3052, S.D. 2.