STAND. COM. REP. NO.  426

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.B. No. 399

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Agriculture and Water, Land, Ocean Resources & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 399 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to educate, construct, maintain, and assist in the development of conservation plans to protect soil and water resources.

     Specifically, this bill makes an appropriation of $500,000 in fiscal years 2007-2008 and 2008-2009, for the Hawaii Association of Conservation Districts to operate soil and water conservation districts.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this bill from the Hawaii Farm Bureau, the Maui County Farm Bureau, the Hawaii Agriculture Research Center, and the Puna Soil and Water Conservation District.  The Department of Agriculture and the Department of Land and Natural Resources supported the intent of the bill.

     Your Committees find that there are now sixteen soil and water conservation districts in the State that are empowered to educate, construct, maintain, and assist in the development of conservation plans and oversee county grading ordinances but that the Hawaii Association of Conservation Districts is underfunded to carry out its objectives.  Your Committees believe that this appropriation will assist the Hawaii Association of Conservation Districts to fulfill its goals and objectives.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Water, Land, Ocean Resources & Hawaiian Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 399 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Agriculture and Water, Land, Ocean Resources & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________ KEN ITO, Chair

____________________________ CLIFT TSUJI, Chair