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. 982 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to make an emergency appropriation for the state irrigation program.

Your Committee received testimony in favor of this measure from the Department of Agriculture.

Your Committee finds that due to recent drought conditions and other unforeseeable delays, there is a shortfall in the funds necessary to maintain irrigation systems within the State. As a result, the uninterrupted operation and maintenance of the State's irrigation systems are in jeopardy. Any interruption of irrigation system operations at a time when severe drought conditions exist, particularly on Molokai, would cause significant economic turmoil within Hawaii's agriculture industry. At this critical time, an emergency appropriation is appropriate to ensure the uninterrupted operation and maintenance of the State's irrigation systems.

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. 982 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.