HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

THE TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE

REGULAR SESSION OF 2008

COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Rep. Marcus R. Oshiro, Chair

Rep. Marilyn B. Lee, Vice Chair

Rep. Karen Leinani Awana	Rep. Sharon E. Har	Rep. Bob Nakasone	Rep. Kymberly Marcos Pine
Rep. Della Au Belatti	Rep. Jon Riki Karamatsu	Rep. Karl Rhoads	Rep. Gene Ward, Ph.D.
Rep. Tom Brower	Rep. Michael Y. Magaoay	Rep. Roland D. Sagum, III
Rep. Mele Carroll	Rep. Joey Manahan	Rep. James Kunane Tokioka
Rep. Faye P. Hanohano	Rep. John Mizuno	Rep. Colleen Rose Meyer

NOTICE OF HEARING

DATE:

FRIDAY, February 22, 2008

TIME:

1:00 P.M.

PLACE:

Conference Room 308

State Capitol

415 South Beretania Street

A G E N D A # 4

RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL LANDS.

Provides incentives and protections to establish and sustain viable agricultural operations on important agricultural lands.

WLH/AGR, FIN

RELATING TO LAND USE.

Provides two incentives to landowners who designate their land as important agricultural lands by allowing a landowner: (1) who has designated important agricultural lands to satisfy state- or county-imposed affordable housing assessments in the rural district; (2) to submit a petition for a declaratory order from the land use commission to combine the designation of important agricultural lands with the reclassification of agricultural land to the rural or urban district.

WLH/AGR, FIN

RELATING TO THE HAWAIIAN HOMES COMMISSION ACT

Increases the loan ceiling for farm and ranch operations on Hawaiian home lands from $50,000 to $200,000.

WLH/AGR, FIN

RELATING TO THE DEFINITION OF RENEWABLE ENERGY PRODUCER.

Amends the definition of "renewable energy producer" to include growers and producers of organic materials used primarily for the production of biofuels or other fuels, so that they will be eligible for direct leases of public land.

WLH/EEP, FIN

RELATING TO PUBLIC LANDS.

Permits a current lessee of public land to be disposed by public auction to match the winning bid under certain circumstances.

WLH, FIN

RELATING TO REAL PROPERTY.

Permits the registrar of the bureau of conveyances to accept electronic documents with electronic signatures for recording. Requires the judiciary to study what effect electronic recording may have on the adjudication of land court applications, determine permissible uses for electronic recording, and report its findings to the legislature prior to 2009 regular session.

WLH, CPC/JUD, FIN

DECISION MAKING TO FOLLOW

Persons wishing to offer comments should submit testimony at least 24 hours prior to the hearing with a transmittal cover indicating:

· Testifier's name with position/title and organization;

· The date and agenda no. of the hearing;

· Measure number;

· If you will be testifying in person or submitting written testimony only;

· The Committee the comments are directed to; and

· The number of copies the Committee is requesting.

While every effort will be made to copy, organize, and collate all testimony received, materials received on the day of the hearing or improperly identified or directed to the incorrect office, may be distributed to the Committee after the hearing.

Submit testimony in ONE of the following ways:

PAPER: 2 copies to Room 306 in the State Capitol. It is required that the copies be on one side of an 8½ " X 11" sheet;

FAX: For comments less than 5 pages in length, transmit to 586-6001 (Oahu) or 1-800-535-3859 (Neighbor Islands);

EMAIL: For comments less than 5 pages in length, transmit to FINtestimony@Capitol.hawaii.gov. Please include the measure number, date of hearing, and agenda no. in the subject line or click on the appropriate "Email Testimony" link above.

Testimony submitted will be placed on the Legislative Web site after the hearing adjourns. This public posting of testimony on the Web site should be considered when including personal information in your testimony.

If you require special assistance or auxiliary aids and/or services to participate in the House public hearing process (i.e., sign or foreign language interpreter or wheelchair accessibility), please contact the Committee Clerk at 586-6200 or email your request for an interpreter to HouseInterpreter@Capitol.hawaii.gov at least 24 hours prior to the hearing for arrangements. Prompt requests submitted help to ensure the availability of qualified individuals and appropriate accommodations.

Selected meetings are broadcast live. Check the current legislative broadcast schedule on the "Capitol TV" Web site at www.capitoltv.org OR call 550-8074.

________________________________________

Rep. Marcus R. Oshiro

Chair