STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1385

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   H.C.R. No. 206

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 206 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE TO CONVENE AN AGRICULTURAL TOURISM TASK FORCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to encourage economic diversification by requesting the Board of Agriculture to convene an Agricultural Tourism Task Force to examine the feasibility of:

     (1)  Authorizing agricultural tourism activities on agricultural lands; and

     (2)  Exempting farmers and cattlemen from county laws relating to the construction of buildings or structures that are used for agricultural tourism activities.

One concerned individual submitted testimony in opposition to this measure.  The Department of Agriculture offered comments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by clarifying that agricultural tourism includes farmer labor and educational exchanges.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 206, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Tourism in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 206, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

JESSICA WOOLEY, Chair