STAND. COM. REP. NO.  464

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   H.B. No. 259

      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 Water & Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 259 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO COMMUNITY FOOD FORESTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish and fund a Community Food Forest program in the Department of Land and Natural Resources to work collaboratively with local government and community organizations to provide sources of healthy food statewide.  

The Department of Land and Natural Resources commented on this measure.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Specifying that the funds shall be appropriated from an unspecified special fund rather than the general fund;

     (2)  Adding language that provides that contractors and other third parties who receive funds under this measure may be subject to review and inspection by the Department of Land and Natural Resources, the Attorney General, or the Auditor; and

     (3)  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. 259, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 259, 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