STAND. COM. REP. NO.  287-16

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2016

RE:   H.B. No. 2420

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 2420 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate moneys to the Hawaii Association of Conservation Districts to assist with its staffing and operating costs while providing time for the districts to develop sustainable funding mechanisms.

The Department of Agriculture; Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council; Maui County Farm Bureau; Hawaii Crop Improvement Association; MauiGrown Coffee, Inc.; Central Maui Soil and Water Conservation District; Hawaii Association of Conservation Districts; Monsanto Hawaii; Larry Jefts Farms, LLC; Hawaii Farm Bureau; Ponoholo Ranch Limited; and numerous individuals testified in support of this measure.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources testified in support of the intent of this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 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 Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2420, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2420, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water & Land,

____________________________

RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair