STAND. COM. REP. NO.  477

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   H.B. No. 484

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Agriculture and Water & Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 484 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE PROTECTION OF TARO,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to protect taro growing lands and structures from development by designating such lands as special agricultural lands restricted for specific uses.

Occupy Monsanto, Respiratory & Environmental Disabilities Association of Hawaii, and numerous individuals testified in support of this measure.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources and the Taro Security and Purity Task Force provided comments on this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Clarifying that the special agricultural land designation for ancient taro lands refers to ancient wetland taro lands;

     (2)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

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

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Water & Land that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 484, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 484, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Agriculture and Water & Land,

____________________________ CINDY EVANS, Chair

____________________________ JESSICA WOOLEY, Chair