STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1063

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 503

       H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committees on Water and Land and Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 503, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DROUGHT MITIGATION,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to provide funding to pursue drought mitigation projects and measures in each county of the State.

 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Agriculture, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Maui County Farm Bureau, Hawaii Crop Improvement Association, Ulupono Initiative, and Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii.

 

     In 2004, county drought committees were formed for each of the four counties in Hawaii.  Each county drought committee developed a drought mitigation strategy for its respective county, with a focus on drought mitigation projects.  These county drought mitigation strategies represent the local needs and concerns of each county and are incorporated by reference into the Hawaii Drought Plan.

 

     Your Committees find that a viable agriculture industry requires a steady, reliable supply of water.  However, drought conditions continue to adversely affect farms and ranches in the State, hampering their ability to produce quality products on a consistent basis throughout the year.

     Your Committees find that to implement the Hawaii Drought Plan adequately, sufficient funding to the counties is necessary to address the many challenges that our agriculture industry faces in preparing for droughts.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water and Land and Agriculture that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 503, H.D. 1, and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

 

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

 

________________________________

RUSSELL E. RUDERMAN, Chair

 

________________________________

LAURA H. THIELEN, Chair