STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2171

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2295

       S.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Water and Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 2295 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO THE HAWAII ASSOCIATION OF CONSERVATION DISTRICTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to make an appropriation to the Hawaii Association of Conservation Districts to assist with its staffing and operating costs to provide time for the districts to develop sustainable funding mechanisms.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Agriculture, Department of Health, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Hawaii Association of Conservation Districts, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, Monsanto Co., Central Maui Soil and Water Conservation District, Kau Soil and Water Conservation District, Hawaii Cattlemens Council, Maui Cattle Company, DuPont Pioneer, Hawaii Aquaculture & Aquaponics Association, Maui County Farm Bureau, Hamakua County Farm Bureau, Hawaii Crop Improvement Association, Hawaii Agriculture Research Center, Hawaii Agricultural Partnerships, and ten individuals.

     The Hawaii Association of Conservation Districts, through coordination, facilitation, and partnerships, assists government agencies in identifying and implementing culturally-sensitive projects and practices to ensure the protection of Hawaii's environment.  The Hawaii Association of Conservation Districts is composed of sixteen districts representing every community on all major islands of Hawaii.  Chapter 180, Hawaii Revised Statutes, authorizes the soil and water conservation districts to operate as government subdivisions to educate the public and construct and maintain conservation projects and programs in Hawaii.  Each of the sixteen districts is governed by five volunteer directors and is supported by staff.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources provides administration and maintains oversight authority of the soil and water conservation districts.

     Your Committee finds that agriculture in Hawaii is rapidly evolving.  Many new farmers are immigrants who commonly are unfamiliar with United States laws.  Educational assistance, including education about conservation measures, will be important to ensure that these new farmers and ranchers adopt good environmental stewardship as a core value while seeking economic viability.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by inserting an appropriation amount of $210,000.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water and Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2295, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2295, 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 and Land,

____________________________

MALAMA SOLOMON, Chair