STAND. COM. REP. NO.  562-10

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2010

RE:   H.B. No. 2409

      H.D. 2

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2409, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AQUACULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this Act is to encourage commercial aquaculture production in the state by authorizing public lands to be leased for this purpose for up to 45 years, and giving aquaculture operations in good standing a right of first refusal to renew the lease.

     The Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation; East Oahu County Farm Bureau; Hawaii Aquaculture Association; Hawaii Oceanic Technology, Inc.; High Health Aquaculture Inc.; and numerous concerned individuals testified in support of this bill.  Food & Water Watch and a multitude of concerned individuals opposed this measure.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources, Maui Tomorrow Foundation, and a concerned individual provided comments.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Providing that the right of first refusal for aquaculture operations in good standing is permissive;

     (2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2020, to encourage further discussion; and

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2409, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2409, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair