Report Title:

Agriculture; Infrastructure on Kauai

 

Description:

Appropriates money to provide for the uninterrupted operation and maintenance of the infrastructure systems servicing the areas encompassing the Kekaha and Lihue plantations for a period of one year. (SD1)

 

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

1300

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2001

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

RELATING TO agriculture.

 

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the imminent termination of sugarcane cultivation by Amfac Sugar-Kauai will likely result in the loss of hundreds of jobs, causing great economic hardship and uncertainty for many Kauai families and businesses.

As of late 2000, five agribusinesses have received temporary permits from the board of land and natural resources to utilize about 5,000 acres in the Kekaha area for truck crops, seed corn, aquaculture, fruit orchards, as well as sugarcane. In the Hanamaulu-Wailua area, there will be several thousand additional acres available for diversified agricultural activities. These agricultural lands possess qualities that are suited for cultivating a wide variety of crops.

These areas are served by four extensive irrigation supply, storage, and distribution systems. Upon closure, continued maintenance of these systems is critical for the transition to diversified agriculture. In addition, the Kekaha area also has

hydroelectric generators, a complex electrical distribution network, many miles of drainage canals, and two groundwater pumping stations that prevent the makai plain from flooding. These facilities must be operated and maintained on a continuous basis, whether the lands are in sugarcane, other crop cultivation, or fallowed.

The purpose of this Act is to enable the agribusiness development corporation to provide for the uninterrupted operation and maintenance of the infrastructure systems servicing the areas encompassing the Kekaha and Lihue plantations for a period of one year, thereby fostering the establishment of diversified agriculture, sugarcane businesses, or both activities on these lands.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $540,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2001-2002, to be deposited into the Hawaii agricultural development revolving fund to be expended to carry out the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the Hawaii agricultural development revolving fund the sum of $540,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2001-2002, to allow the agribusiness development corporation to carry out the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. The sums appropriated shall be expended by the agribusiness development corporation for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2001.