STAND. COM. REP. NO. 851

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: H.B. No. 756

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 756, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to re-designate one of the at‑large positions on the Board of Agriculture as an ex officio position to be filled by the Chairperson of the Hawaiian Homes Commission.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture.

Your Committee finds that the interests of agricultural lessees of Hawaiian homesteads should be represented on the Board of Agriculture in a way that does not establish precedent for other stakeholder groups to request expansion of the Board and compromise its ability to govern efficiently.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Designating one of the at-large positions on the Board of Agriculture as the Chairperson of the Hawaiian Homes Commission; and

(2) Inserting a sunset date of June 30, 2024.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 756, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 756, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

MARK M. NAKASHIMA, Chair