HB337 HD2

PART I

SECTION 1. The purpose of this part is to promote fiscal accountability with regard to agricultural land lease agreements between the State and lessees by allowing the agribusiness development corporation to contract with financial institutions to provide lease management services.

SECTION 2. Section 163D-7, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"[[]§163D-7[]] Agricultural projects; agricultural development plans. (a) The corporation may develop and implement agricultural projects where large tracts of agricultural land have been or will be taken out of productive agriculture or where, through detailed analysis, opportunities exist to exploit potential local, national, and international markets.

(b) The corporation may initiate and coordinate the preparation of business and agricultural development plans for its projects. The plans shall include a proposal for the organization of the enterprise, a marketing information and strategy, the impact on existing agricultural operations throughout the [~~State~~] state, and a recommendation for the construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, improvement, alteration, or repair of any infrastructure or accessory facilities in connection with any project.

(c) The corporation may enter into cooperative agreements with coordinating entrepreneurs or public agencies when the powers, services, and capabilities of the persons or agencies are deemed necessary and appropriate for the development and implementation of the business and agricultural development plans.

(d) The corporation may purchase, accept, and maintain permanent conservation easements, or transfer them to a qualified land trust, in accordance with the Natural Resources Conservation Service Farm and Ranch Lands Protection program.

(e) Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter to the contrary, when leasing agricultural land under the corporation's control, the corporation may contract with a financial institution chartered under chapter 412 or a federal financial institution, as defined under section 412:1-109, which is transacting business in this state to provide lease management services. For the purposes of this subsection, "lease management services" includes the collection of lease rent and any other moneys owed to the corporation related to the lease of agricultural land under the corporation's control.

[~~(d)~~] (f) The agricultural planning activities of the corporation shall be coordinated with the county planning departments and the county land use plans, policies, and ordinances.

[~~(e)~~] (g) The corporation may amend the business and agricultural development plans as may be necessary.

[~~(f)~~] (h) Any undertaking by the corporation pursuant to this chapter shall be with the express written consent of the landowner or landowners directly affected."

PART II

SECTION 3. The purpose of this part is to ensure the long-term availability of lands suitable for agricultural activities by authorizing the agribusiness development corporation to lease lands acquired under this Act for up to fifty-five years.

SECTION 4. Section 163D-15.6, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"[[]§163D-15.6 Commitment and preservation of agricultural leases.[]] (a) The agribusiness development corporation shall work toward obtaining commitments from landowners in the leeward and central districts of Oahu that their agricultural leases shall be for a duration of twenty or more years[,] and shall not be amended or revoked [~~in order~~] to allow for a nonagricultural use of [~~such~~] the land[.]; provided that for lands in central Oahu acquired under Act , Session Laws of Hawaii 2007, the agricultural leases shall be for no more than fifty-five years.

(b) To further ensure the preservation of agriculture in the leeward and central districts of Oahu, the agribusiness development corporation shall monitor the agricultural leases of lands [~~utilizing~~] using the water from the Waiahole water system. In the event of any proposed amendment or revocation of any such lease, the corporation shall do all things within its powers under [[]this chapter[]] to protect and defend the interests of the agricultural leaseholders to ensure the continuation of agricultural use for those lands."

PART III

SECTION 5. The purpose of this part is to comply with article XI, sections 3 and 10 of the state constitution, relating to the protection of agricultural lands and the promotion of farm ownership and diversified agriculture, by establishing a process to ensure that certain lands in the Kunia or Ewa areas, or both, on the island of Oahu:

(1) Remain available for agricultural use;

(2) Are properly managed to ensure continued economic viability while being used for agriculture; and

(3) Are managed in a manner that is sensitive to and consistent with the needs of farmers in the Kunia or Ewa areas, or both.

The legislature finds that this part is in accordance with article XI, sections 3 and 10 of the state constitution, is in the public interest, and will preserve agricultural activities in the area and a lifestyle that benefits the Kunia or Ewa communities, or both, and the communities at large.

SECTION 6. (a) The agribusiness development corporation is authorized to purchase agricultural lands located in the Kunia or Ewa areas, or both, on the island of Oahu.

(b) The agribusiness development corporation may purchase the lands with a combination of revenues derived through the issuance of revenue bonds pursuant to section 163D-9, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and moneys appropriated under section 8 of this Act.

(c) The agribusiness development corporation shall submit to the legislature a progress report on its actions to obtain Kunia or Ewa agricultural lands, or both, no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2008.

SECTION 7. Section 163D-9, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

"(a) The corporation, with the approval of the governor, may issue, from time to time, revenue bonds in amounts not exceeding the total amount of bonds authorized to be issued by the legislature for the purpose of constructing, acquiring, remodeling, furnishing, and equipping any project facility, including the acquisition of the site thereof[.], or for acquiring agricultural lands through purchase to sustain and preserve viable agricultural enterprises within a contiguous geographic area."

SECTION 8. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007-2008 for purchasing agricultural lands in Kunia or Ewa, or both, on the island of Oahu.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the agribusiness development corporation for the purposes of this part.

PART IV

SECTION 9. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 10. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2020.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	337
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007		H.D. 2
STATE OF HAWAII