STAND. COM. REP. NO. 597

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: H.B. No. 451

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Water, Land, & Hawaiian Affairs and Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 451 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII ASSOCIATION OF CONSERVATION DISTRICTS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to support the protection of Hawaii's environment and agriculture industry by appropriating $500,000 from the Special Land and Development Fund for the operational expenses and staffing costs of the Hawaii Association of Conservation Districts.

The Department of Agriculture, Hawaii Floriculture and Nursery Association, Hawaii Farmers Union, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Maui Farmers Union United, Larry Jefts Farms, LLC, Ulupono Initiative, Hawaii Coffee Association, Maui County Farm Bureau, Bayer, Aina Ho‘okupu o Kilauea, Oahu Resource Conservation & Development Council, Local Food Coalition, Hawaii Crop Improvement Association, East and West Kauai Soil and Water Conservation Districts, East Kauai Soil and Water Conservation District, and many individuals submitted testimony in support of this measure. The Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawaii Association of Conservation Districts, Maui Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Kona Soil and Water Conservation District, Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, and two individuals offered comments on this measure.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriation to an unspecified amount;

(2) Changing the source of the appropriation from the Special Land and Development Fund to the General Fund;

(3) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to promote further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water, Land, & Hawaiian Affairs and Energy & Environmental Protection that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 451, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 451, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Water, Land, & Hawaiian Affairs and Energy & Environmental Protection,

____________________________ NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair

____________________________ RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair