STAND. COM. REP. NO.  85

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

RE:   H.B. No. 773

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 773 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO COMMUNITY FOOD FORESTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to provide additional sources of low- or no-cost food to residents, while also using developed land for community sustainability purposes by establishing and funding a Community Food Forest Program in the Department of Land and Natural Resources.  The Program will allow community members to plant and harvest edible plants on public land.

The Hawaii Farmers Union United supported this bill.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources commented on this measure.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 773 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Water & Land.

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

____________________________

CLIFT TSUJI, Chair