STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1428

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2011

RE:   S.B. No. 1559

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 2

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred S.B. No. 1559, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO IMPORTANT AGRICULTURAL LANDS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to provide incentives for designating land as important agricultural lands by:

     (1)  Requiring priority processing of permit applications and renewals for agricultural processing facilities that process agribusiness crops or livestock produced on land designated as important agricultural land; and

     (2)  Requiring the Public Utilities Commission to establish preferential rates for the purchase of energy for agricultural activities on important agricultural lands.

     The Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii and Alexander and Baldwin, Inc., supported this measure.  The Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation supported the bill, suggesting an amendment.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources and the Department of Agriculture supported the intent of the bill.  The Department of Planning and Permitting of the City and County of Honolulu opposed the measure.

     Your Committee amended this bill by changing its effective date to "upon approval."

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1559, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1559, S.D. 2, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

____________________________

ROBERT N. HERKES, Chair