STAND. COM. REP. NO. 933

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 1263

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committees on Agriculture and Water and Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 1263, H.D. 2, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO IRRIGATION,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to finance improvements to various irrigation systems by:

 

     (1)  Appropriating funds for the East Kauai irrigation system; and

 

     (2)  Authorizing the Director of Finance to issue general obligation bonds and appropriating funds for the Kau irrigation system, Waiahole irrigation system, and Menehune Ditch irrigation system. 

 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Agribusiness Development Corporation, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc., Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii, and Ulupono Initiative.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

 

     Your Committees find that reliable irrigation systems are vital to Hawaii's agricultural industry.  Recent droughts have highlighted the need for repair and maintenance of the irrigation systems in the State.  Your Committees conclude that this measure is necessary to provide necessary funding to maintain and improve Hawaii's irrigation systems. 

 

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Clarifying that the Waiahole irrigation system includes the irrigation system servicing the former Galbraith Estate; and

 

     (2)  Clarifying that the Director of Finance is authorized to issue general obligation bonds in the amount of $3,000,000 and appropriating that amount for the Waiahole/Galbraith Estate irrigation system.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Water and Land that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1263, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1263, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

 

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

 

____________________________

MALAMA SOLOMON, Chair

 

____________________________

CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair