STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2275

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: S.C.R. No. 153

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 153 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO STUDY AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW TO INCREASE COMPLIANCE WITH THE VARIOUS REQUIREMENTS FOR AGRICULTURAL LANDS AND TO PREVENT ABUSE OF AGRICULTURAL LAND LEASES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to address the efficacy of administering the State's agricultural lands to increase agricultural sustainability and curb the abuses of lessees of state agricultural leases by requesting the Department of Agriculture (DOA) to:

(1) Study and make recommendations on how to increase compliance with the various requirements for agricultural lands and to prevent abuse of agricultural land leases; and

(2) Submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including proposed legislation, to the Legislature prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2020.

A councilmember of the Hawai‘i County Council and Hawai‘i Farm Bureau supported this measure. DOA submitted comments on this measure.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Requesting DOA to include in its study and recommendations methods to ensure that DOA is the responsible entity to enforce compliance with agricultural land requirements, including ensuring DOA investigators follow up on complaints from farmers until the complaint is resolved; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 153, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Judiciary in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 153, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

RICHARD P. CREAGAN, Chair