STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1324-16

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2016

RE:   H.C.R. No. 203

      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 Agriculture, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 203 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO PROMOTE THE EXPANSION OF AGRICULTURAL COMMERCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to seek a way to allow enclosed country stores on agricultural land to provide farmers a venue to sell agricultural products grown on their land by requesting the Department of Agriculture to engage in consultation and discussions with government entities and stakeholders to enable farmers to construct enclosed country stores on lands zoned for agriculture.

The Hawaii Farm Bureau and a concerned individual supported this measure.  The Department of Agriculture submitted comments on this measure.

     Your Committee finds that the prohibition against constructing enclosed country stores on agriculture zoned lands should be addressed at the county level.  Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Requesting the Department of Agriculture to engage with the Mayors and planning departments of each county and the Hawaii Farm Bureau to facilitate the construction of enclosed country stores;

     (2)  Giving the Department of Agriculture more flexibility by deleting language regarding the scope of discussion to facilitate the construction of enclosed country stores; and

     (3)  Limiting the transmission of this measure to the Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture, Mayors and directors of the planning department of each county, and the President of the Hawaii Farm Bureau.

     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. 203, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 203, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

CLIFT TSUJI, Chair