STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2874

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2561

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2561, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to make an appropriation for the operational expenses and staffing costs of the Hawaii Association of Conservation Districts.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; Department of Land and Natural Resources; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council; Hawaii Coffee Association; Hawaii Crop Improvement Association; Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation; Larry Jefts Farms, LLC; Local Food Coalition; Maui County Farm Bureau; Pulama Lanai; Sierra Club of Hawaii; Ulupono Initiative; and forty-four individuals.

Your Committee finds that funding for the Hawaii Association of Conservation Districts is necessary in order for it to undertake its work to build the agriculture industry, develop resource conservation initiatives, and preserve natural resources.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriation from $450,000 to an unspecified amount;

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2561, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2561, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair