STAND. COM. REP. NO. 735

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 512

       S.D. 2

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 512, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to provide for the establishment of a natural resource planning process.

Specifically, this measure:

(1)  Establishes the Hawaii One Plan Steering Committee to assist with the design of, identify the appropriate host server for, and implement the Hawaii One Plan;

(2)  Establishes confidentiality of information submitted to the Hawaii One Plan;

(3)  Requires the Hawaii One Plan Steering Committee to report to the Legislature on the funding status and implementation progress of the Hawaii One Plan; and

(4)  Appropriates funds for the implementation and operation of the Hawaii One Plan program.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Oahu Resource Conservation & Development Council, Hawaii Agriculture and Research Center, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Maui County Farm Bureau, Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Hawaii Association of Conservation Districts, Hawaii Farmers Union United, Hawaii Aquaculture & Aquaponics Association, DuPont Pioneer, Ulupono Initiative, Waiakea Soil & Water Conservation Districts, and Larry Jefts Farms LLC.  Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture.

     Your Committee finds that establishing an online system where farmers can easily create a preliminary conservation plan at a reduced cost will aid compliance with government regulations, increase farm productivity, maximize soil retention, and help implement best agricultural practices.

     Your Committee notes that a pending grant application, pursuant to chapter 42F, Hawaii Revised Statutes, by the Oahu Resource Conservation and Development Council, mirrors the Hawaii One Plan established by this measure.  Your Committee believes that despite the pending grant application, the Hawaii One Plan program should be permanently established by law.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1)  Defining the Hawaii One Plan;

(2)  Adding the State Chief Information Officer to the Hawaii One Plan Steering Committee;

(3)  Clarifying that private entities are invited, rather than required, to become members of the Hawaii One Plan Steering Committee;

(4)  Changing the appropriation to an unspecified amount;

(5)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion; and

(6)  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 Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 512, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 512, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair