STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1628-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   S.B. No. 2296

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 2

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 2296, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE DISPOSITION OF LANDS MANAGED BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to responsibly facilitate the leasing of certain agricultural and non-agricultural park lands by authorizing the Department of Agriculture to select and negotiate with qualifying applicants as back-up lessees should the initial awardee fail to complete the lease process; provided that with respect to agricultural park lands:

     (1)  The applicant must have submitted a sealed bid with the next highest offer to qualify as a back-up lessee, subject to negotiations with the Department; and

     (2)  The Department, among other things, determines that the applicant will promote the goals of the increased food security and food self-sufficiency strategy, as established by the Office of Planning.

The Department of Agriculture offered comments on this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2030, to encourage further discussion; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of style, clarity, and consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2296, 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. 2296, S.D. 2, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair