STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2742

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 2832

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 2832, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TARO SECURITY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to authorize the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to seek funding for projects that increase the cultivation and use of taro. 

     Testimony in support of the measure was submitted by four organizations, one county councilmember, and twelve other individuals.  One state agency supports the intent, and one state agency and two organizations submitted comments.  Written testimony presented to the Committee may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

     Your Committee recognizes the important role of taro in the future of Hawaii and is grateful to the Taro Security and Purity Task Force for providing a comprehensive review of what is needed to increase the supply of taro for Hawaii.  Your Committee supports the continued efforts of the Task Force to work cooperatively with the Department of Land and Natural Resources and the Department of Agriculture to identify suitable taro growing lands held by the State.  Putting these lands into production will have a great economic benefit to the State.  Your Committee appreciates the administrative support the Office of Hawaiian Affairs has provided, and finds that without the continued support of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Task Force may not be able to continue its work.  Your Committee hopes the Office of Hawaiian Affairs will continue to lead this coordinated effort to support the increased cultivation of taro. 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by replacing its contents with the recommendation of the Taro Security and Purity Task Force to expand its duties to include implementation over the next five years of the policies and recommendations set forth by the Task Force in the report submitted to the 2010 Legislature. 

     Your Committee amended the measure by:

     (1)  Inserting a purpose section;

     (2)  Amending Act 211, Session Laws of Hawaii 2008, which established the Taro Security and Purity Task Force, to require the Task Force to implement their recommendations; and

     (3)  Requiring the Taro Security and Purity Task Force to submit a preliminary report on implementation prior the Regular Session of 2014, and a final report to the Legislature prior to the Regular Session of 2015.

     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. 2832, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2832, 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,

____________________________

CLAYTON HEE, Chair