STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1241

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 451

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water and Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 451, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Department of Land and Natural Resources for the operational expenses and staffing costs of the Hawaii Association of Conservation Districts.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Department of Agriculture; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; Maui County Farm Bureau; Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; Hawaii Association of Conservation District; Ka‘u Soil and Water Conservation; Maui Soil and Water Conservation District; Local Food Coalition; Ulupono Initiative; Larry Jefts Farms, LLC; Ponoholo Ranch, Ltd.; Hawaii Coffee Association; Hawai‘i Center for Food Safety; A‘a Li‘i Farm; Birds With Arms Farms; East Kauai Soil and Water Conservation District; and fifty-seven individuals.

Your Committee finds that the Hawaii Association of Conservation Districts consist of sixteen soil and water conservation districts throughout the State who work together in a variety of ways to help protect and sustain Hawaii's natural environment. The Hawaii Association of Conservation Districts continues to work closely with a variety of federal and state agencies including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, United States Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service, University of Hawaii, and Hawaii State Department of Health. Your Committee further finds that due to funding shortages, the Hawaii Association of Conservation Districts has been limited in its ability to provide assistance to many farmers who can benefit from its services.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making it effective on July 1, 2019.

Your Committee recommends that your Committee on Ways and Means consider the request of the Hawaii Association of Conservation Districts to include its budget of $500,000 in the Department of Land and Natural Resources' base operating budget.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water and Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 451, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 451, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water and Land,

________________________________

KAIALI'I KAHELE, Chair