STAND. COM. REP. NO.  361

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   H.B. No. 785

      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. 785 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII ASSOCIATION OF CONSERVATION DISTRICTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Department of Land and Natural Resources for the operational expenses and staffing costs of the Hawaii Association of Conservation Districts.

The Department of Agriculture, Hawaii Coffee Association, Hawaii Farmers Union United, Waiakea Soil & Water Conservation District, Local Food Coalition, Maui County Farm Bureau, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, East and West Kauai Soil and Water Conservation District, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Kauai County Farm Bureau, Monsanto, Ponoholo Ranch Limited, Larry Jefts Farms, LLC, Ka‘u Soil and Water Conservation District, Puna Soil and Water Conservation District, McCandless Ranch, Oahu Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Hawaii Association of Conservation Districts, Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii, and numerous concerned individuals supported this measure.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources provided comments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Removing the appropriation amount;

     (2)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     Should the Committee on Finance deliberate this measure further, your Committee on Water & Land respectfully requests that it consider appropriating $450,000 for the operational expenses and staffing costs of the Hawaii Association of Conservation Districts.

     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. 785, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 785, 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