STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2170

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 2000

                                   RE:  S.B. No. 2917
                                        S.D. 1




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Water, Land, and Hawaiian Affairs, to
which was referred S.B. No. 2917 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
     FUND,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to establish a Water Resource
Management Fund for the Commission on Water Resource Management
(Commission) to use for water-related activities.

     Testimony in support of the measure was received from the
Department of Land and Natural Resources and the Honolulu Board
of Water Supply.  The Office of Hawaiian Affairs submitted
comments.

     Your Committee finds that since 1994, the Commission on
Water Resource Management's budget has been reduced by eighteen
percent.  While the Special Land and Development Fund accounts
for roughly six percent of the Commission's funding, the
remaining ninety-three percent of its budget is derived from
state general funds.  As such, during these fiscally trying
times, the Commission's budget has constantly been a target for
further cutbacks.

     Your Committee believes that a consistent source of funding
through the establishment of a Water Resource Management Fund
would allow the Commission to fully carry out its
responsibilities and to implement monitoring, management,

 
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enforcement, and resource protection programs/activities that are
necessary to sustain the State's limited water resources.

     Your Committee has amended the measure by inserting language
that clarifies that the applicable revenues deposited into the
Water Resource Management Fund shall be subject to the pro rata
revenue requirements of Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1920, as
amended, and section 5(f) of the Admission Act of 1959, as
implemented by Article XII, section 6, of the State Constitution.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Water, Land, and Hawaiian Affairs that is attached
to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and
purpose of S.B. No. 2917, as amended herein, and recommends that
it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B.
No. 2917, 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, and
                                   Hawaiian Affairs,



                                   ______________________________
                                   COLLEEN HANABUSA, Chair

 
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