STAND. COM. REP. 178

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: H.B. No. 1107

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Water, Land Use, and Hawaiian Affairs and Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 1107 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE IRRIGATION WATER DEVELOPMENT SPECIAL FUND,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to terminate the Irrigation Water Development Special Fund (Fund).

The Board of Agriculture testified in support of this bill.

Your Committees find that chapter 167, Hawaii Revised Statutes, Irrigation Water Development, authorized the Department of Agriculture (DOA) to issue revenue bonds to acquire and improve former irrigation systems after the closure of several sugar plantations in Hawaii. Proceeds from the bonds were to be deposited into the Fund. However, the Fund was never used because the Agribusiness Development Corporation was charged with the responsibility of administering the transition of agricultural infrastructure from plantation operations to other agricultural enterprises.

In addition, the Legislative Auditor has recommended that DOA terminate the Fund since it is inactive.

 

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water, Land Use, and Hawaiian Affairs and Agriculture that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1107 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

 

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

 

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FELIPE P. ABINSAY, JR., Chair

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EZRA R. KANOHO, Chair