Report Title:

Irrigation Repair and Maintenance Special Fund

 

Description:

Requires landowners applying for funding assistance from the Irrigation Repair and Maintenance Special Fund to dedicate the land to be irrigated to agricultural use for no fewer than ten years.  Repeals existing requirement that the landowner file a petition for declaratory ruling designating a majority of all land served by the irrigation system as important agricultural land.  (HB406 HD1)

 


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

406

TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT


 

 

RELATING TO IRRIGATION.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  Section 167-24, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (d) to read as follows:

     "(d)  Landowners may apply for funding assistance from the irrigation repair and maintenance special fund; provided that the landowner:

     (1)  Provides matching funding equal to the amount received from the irrigation repair and maintenance special fund;

    [(2)  Agrees to file a petition for declaratory ruling pursuant to section 205-45 designating a majority of all land served by the water produced by the irrigation system as important agricultural lands as defined under section 205-42 and notifies the board and county of the petition and designation for the purpose of inclusion on maps; and]

     (2)  Dedicates the land to be served by the irrigation system funded under this section to agricultural use for no fewer than ten years pursuant to county ordinance; and

     (3)  Agrees to actively use, or provide for the active use of, all such lands for agricultural production if those lands continue to be owned or controlled by the landowner [and served by the water produced by the irrigation system for agricultural production].

     The board shall develop processes, policies, standards, and criteria for selecting the landowners that are to receive funding and the amount of such funding.  The board shall also develop processes, policies, standards, and criteria for determining the amount of funding provided to irrigation systems in subsection (b) owned by the State."

     SECTION 2.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.