STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1164

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 90

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 90 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE OFFICE OF PLANNING TO UPDATE THE HAWAII STATE PLANNING ACT'S ECONOMIC OBJECTIVES FOR AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the Office of Planning to study and update the Hawaii State Planning Act's economic objectives and policies for agriculture.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Planning and Hawai‘i Farm Bureau.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture.

     Your Committee finds that the current Hawaii State Planning Act economic objectives for agriculture list Hawaii's sugar and pineapple industries as top priorities, which have been declining over recent decades and are no longer the primary focus of Hawaii's agricultural industry.  Your Committee also finds that sustainability, food security, and increased local food production are current priorities of the State.  Therefore, your Committee finds that it is appropriate that the Hawaii State Planning Act be updated to reflect the State's present goals.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Specifying that the Office of Planning is requested to work with the Department of Agriculture to realign the Hawaii State Planning Act's agricultural priorities in accordance with a long-term vision that includes consideration of sustainable agriculture and self-sufficiency in Hawaii and other potential vision elements;

     (2)  Requesting that the Office of Planning submit a long-term vision statement to the Legislature, in addition to an updated priority list of state economic objectives and policies for agriculture; and

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 90, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means, in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 90, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture and Environment,

________________________________

MIKE GABBARD, Chair