STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2708

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 3065

       S.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 3065, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LAND EXCHANGE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to investigate the possibility of exchanging state land for certain lands owned by Dole Food Company, Inc. and to pay for the costs of executing the exchange if appropriate state land is found.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Trust for Public Land, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, HARC, Sugarland Growers, Inc., and five individuals.  Written comments were received from the Department of Agriculture, Agribusiness Development Corporation, and one individual.

     Your Committee finds that it is necessary to protect and preserve the State's agricultural land assets to ensure that future generations have access to locally produced agricultural products.  Your Committee further finds that the strengthening of the State's system of preserves, sanctuaries, and refuges is critical, and additional lands suitable for agriculture and preservation should be set aside.

     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. 3065, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair