STAND. COM. REP. NO.  924

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   H.B. No. 1578

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1578, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CLIMATE CHANGE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish the Carbon Farming Task Force within the Office of Planning to identify agricultural practices to improve soil health and promote carbon sequestration in the State's agricultural and aquacultural sectors.

The Sierra Club of Hawaii, Hawaii Farmers Union United, Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action, Surfrider Foundation's Hawaii Chapters, Surfrider Foundation's Oahu Chapter, and numerous individuals testified in support of this measure.  The Office of Planning, Department of Agriculture, and Department of Land and Natural Resources commented on this measure.

     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 H.B. No. 1578, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair