STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3018

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2099

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs and Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred H.B. No. 2099, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require the Department of Agriculture to conduct a study on the feasibility of authorizing the Department to establish and designate ag-tech zones within the City and County of Honolulu and appropriate funds for the feasibility study.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawai‘i System, Hawaii State Teachers Association, O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, and one individual. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture.

Your Committees find that increasing local food production is essential for the future sustainability of the State. Approximately ninety percent of all food in the State is imported. Your Committees find that it essential for the State to explore more effective and environmentally responsible ways to increase food production to feed its residents. Moreover, your Committees find that agricultural technology, or ag-tech, should be at the forefront of the effort to revitalize the agricultural sector of the State and develop that industry's potential to be a major contributor to state revenues. Your Committees further find that the State must entertain alternatives to its current agricultural operations by bringing in new ideas for the use of land and practicing responsible land stewardship.

Additionally, your Committees note the suggestion presented in testimony by the Department of Agriculture that the Department may be able to implement this measure in a timely manner if the measure specified certain geographic areas on which the proposed feasibility study should focus.

Accordingly, your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Adding specific geographic areas within the City and County of Honolulu on which the proposed feasibility study should focus;

(2) Adding the Hawaii Community Development Authority and the City and County of Honolulu as agencies from which the Department of Agriculture should seek assistance to conduct the proposed feasibility study;

(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2018; and

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

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs and Agriculture and Environment that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2099, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2099, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs and Agriculture and Environment,

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair

________________________________ CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair