Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred S.B. No. 1226 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to maintain two Department of Agriculture positions at the Molokai Irrigation System.

Your Committee received testimony in favor of this measure from four members of the County Council of Maui County and one individual. The Department of Agriculture commented on this measure.

Your Committee finds that Department of Agriculture downsizing occurring on the neighboring islands will decrease the number of services available to local farmers and cause them considerable inconveniences that will result in increasing the cost of farming. The planned downsizing at the Molokai Irrigation System and the Kamuela/Waimea Irrigation System is not appropriate since the farmers being serviced by those systems are currently struggling to deal with drought and other adverse conditions. This measure ensures that these farmers will have efficient agricultural services at a time when they need it the most.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1226, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1226, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.