STAND. COM. REP. NO.  743

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

RE:   H.B. No. 205

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 205 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATED TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to update the Hawaii State Planning Act by adding as state agricultural economic policies:

(1)  The perpetuation, promotion, and increase of traditional Hawaiian farming and traditional Hawaiian crops; and

(2)  The increase and development of small-scale farms.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, University of Hawaii at Manoa, two members of the Kauai County Council, Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs, Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii, Hawaii Green Growth, and several concerned individuals supported this measure.  The Department of Agriculture provided comments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing its effective date to January 20, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

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

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 205, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 205, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

CLIFT TSUJI, Chair