STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1575

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

RE:   S.B. No. 512

      S.D. 2

      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 Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 512, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to provide Hawaii farmers access to an online interface to develop and obtain conservation plans that are necessary to seek Federal Farm Bill funding and comply with county grading and grubbing ordinances by:

     (1)  Establishing the Hawaii One Plan Steering Committee (Steering Committee) to assist in the development and implementation of the Hawaii One Plan, a primary computer-based soil and water conservation plan application system;

     (2)  Requiring the Steering Committee to submit reports on the funding status and implementation progress of the Hawaii One Plan to the Legislature prior to the convening of the 2016 and 2017 Regular Sessions; and

     (3)  Appropriating funds for the implementation and operation of the Hawaii One Plan.

The Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; Waimanalo Agricultural Association; Larry Jefts Farms, LLC; Fantastic Gardens Hawaii, Inc.; Ulupono Initiative; Hawaii Farm Bureau; Hawaii Association of Conservation Districts; Oahu Resource Conservation & Development Council; DuPont Pioneer; Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii; and numerous individuals testified in support of this measure.  The Department of Agriculture, Office of Information Practices, and an individual provided comments on this measure.  

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Inserting an appropriation for $1 for the implementation and operation of the Hawaii One Plan; 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 Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 512, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 512, S.D. 2, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair