STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1230

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 860

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred H.B. No. 860, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LAND AND BUILDING ACQUISITION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds for the acquisition of the property identified as tax map key number (1)9-2-001:011-0000 to help fulfill the State's constitutional duty to conserve and protect land in the agricultural district and promote diversified agriculture.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Agribusiness Development Corporation, O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, and one individual.

Your Committee finds that it is in the best interest of the State to purchase land to make it available for farmers with a long-term lease at an affordable price. Your Committee further finds that tax map key number (1) 9-2-001:011-0000 is located at 94-488 Kunia Road on Oahu and encompasses two hundred eighty-two acres counting the existing baseyard and greenhouse infrastructure. The existing facilities and buildings are in good working order and can be repurposed with minimal changes. The Agribusiness Development Corporation plans to use this parcel for multiple purposes, such as Department of Agriculture animal and plant industry activities, research and development projects for outdoor and controlled environment growing systems, and commercial agriculture.

Your Committee further finds that the acquisition of the land and buildings in Kunia will significantly increase the available agricultural land under the State's control and can provide farmers with long-term leases that will enhance the economic viability of Hawaii's agricultural industry. Your Committee believes that this is an opportunity to further support and expand the State's ability to provide agricultural lands for farmers, which is consistent with the State's constitutional duty to conserve and protect land in the agricultural district and promote diversified agriculture.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an appropriation amount of $15,000,000; and

(2) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2019.

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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 860, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 860, 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 Committee on Agriculture and Environment,

________________________________

MIKE GABBARD, Chair