STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1119

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 399

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 399, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to assist in the development of conservation plans by appropriating funds to the Hawaii Association of Conservation Districts for its operating expenses for all of its soil and water conservation districts.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Department of Land and Natural Resources, the Department of Agriculture, the Hawaii Agriculture Research Center, the Hawaii Crop Improvement Association, the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, the Hawaii Association of Conservation Districts, the Maui County Farm Bureau, the Kona Soil and Water Conservation District, the Mauna Kea Soil and Water Conservation District, the Hamakua Soil and Water Conservation District, the Windward Soil and Water Conservation District, and one individual.

     The purpose of the Soil and Water Conservation District program is to educate, construct, maintain, and assist in the development of conservation plans to protect soil and water resources.  Your Committee finds that the Hawaii Association of Conservation Districts is under funded to carryout the tremendous and important functions all sixteen of the Soil and Water Conservation Districts serve to the agricultural industry in Hawaii.  An increase in funding will enable the Soil and Water Conservation Districts to each cover their existing operating expenses and additional costs associated with increased liability and regulatory requirements.

     Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Deleting the blank appropriation amount and adding an appropriation amount of $500,000; and

     (2)  Changing the effective date of this measure from July 1, 2020, to July 1, 2007.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 399, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 399, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

RUSSELL S. KOKUBUN, Chair