STAND. COM. REP. NO. 323

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 495

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 495 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS FOR THE REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE OF IRRIGATION SYSTEMS WITHIN THE STATE,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for capital improvement projects to repair and maintain irrigation systems within the State.

 

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by two members of the Maui County Council, twelve organizations, and five public citizens.  Three state agencies submitted comments.  Written testimony presented to your Committee may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

 

     Your Committee finds that a reliable irrigation system is the lifeblood of Hawai‘i's agricultural industry.  To ensure that Hawai‘i's farmers receive a steady and dependable supply of water to grow their crops, sufficient funding is needed to maintain and improve Hawai‘i's agricultural irrigation systems.

 

     Your Committee further finds that this contribution to the State's agricultural infrastructure will:

 

     (1)  Act as a needed economic stimulus for the State's economy;

 

     (2)  Create a dynamic impact of water availability enabling increased agricultural production; and

 

     (3)  Benefit the State through increased tax revenue.

 

     The total amount for these capital improvement projects approximates $16,000,000.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by providing additional information for the purpose section.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 495, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 495, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

 

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

 

 

 

____________________________

CLAYTON HEE, Chair