STAND. COM. REP. NO. 75

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2005

RE: H.B. No. 165

H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Agriculture and Water, Land, and Ocean Resources, to which was referred H.B. No. 165 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE EAST KAUAI IRRIGATION SYSTEM,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to ensure a stable supply of water for the East Kauai Water Users' Cooperative (Cooperative) by appropriating $50,000 for fiscal year 2005-2006 to be paid into the Hawaii Agricultural Development Revolving Fund (Revolving Fund).

The Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Kauai County Farm Bureau, Keapana Horsemanship, and a concerned citizen supported this bill. The Agribusiness Development Corporation supported the intent of this measure.

Your Committees recognize that adequate water is essential for agricultural operations of the Cooperative that depend on the East Kauai Irrigation System (Irrigation System). Due to serious funding shortfalls, additional appropriations are needed to meet maintenance and day-to-day operational costs of the Irrigation System.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Appropriating $50,000 for fiscal year 2006-2007 to fund recurring operational and management costs;

(2) Clarifying the intent of this bill by establishing that funds paid into the Revolving Fund are to be expended for operation and maintenance of the Irrigation System; and

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

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Water, Land, and Ocean Resources that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 165, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 165, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Agriculture and Water, Land, and Ocean Resources,

 

____________________________

EZRA R. KANOHO, Chair

____________________________

FELIPE P. ABINSAY, JR., Chair