STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1302

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.R. No. 18

       S.D. 1

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Public Safety, Government Operations, and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.R. No. 18, S.D. 1, entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION URGING THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU TO EXPEND MONIES ALREADY DEDICATED IN ITS 2010-2011 EXECUTIVE OPERATING BUDGET TO CONDUCT A STUDY TO MAP AND DETERMINE IMPORTANT AGRICULTURAL LANDS ON OAHU, FOR THAT PURPOSE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the City and County of Honolulu to expend monies set aside in its 2010-2011 Executive Operating Budget and Program to the Department of Planning and Permitting for a study to map and determine Important Agricultural Lands on Oahu.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from one individual.

     Act 183, Session Laws of Hawaii 2005, established a process to designate Important Agricultural Lands, and the first stage of this process, which has already commenced, allows farmers and landowners to voluntarily petition the Land Use Commission to designate their lands as Important Agricultural Lands.  The second stage of the designation process requires each county to identify lands for potential designation as Important Agricultural Lands and to petition the Land Use Commission to designate these lands as Important Agricultural Lands.  This process is scheduled to begin on July 1, 2011.

     Your Committee finds that the Executive Operating Budget and Program for the City and County of Honolulu for the 2010-2011 fiscal year sets aside $500,000 for funding for a study to identify and map potential Important Agricultural Lands on Oahu.  As extensive county planning and coordination are necessary to implement laws designed to protect important agricultural lands and support agricultural viability, your Committee encourages timely action by the City and County of Honolulu to continue the process of protecting Important Agricultural Lands. 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety, Government Operations, and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 18, S.D. 1, and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety, Government Operations, and Military Affairs,

____________________________

WILL ESPERO, Chair