Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, 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 finds that there is a shortfall in the funds necessary to maintain irrigation systems within the State because of recent drought conditions and other unforeseeable delays. This may jeopardize the uninterrupted operation and maintenance of the State's irrigation systems. Your Committee finds that any interruption of irrigation system operations at a time when severe drought conditions exist, particularly on Molokai, could cause significant economic turmoil within Hawaii's agriculture industry. Accordingly, your Committee believes that an emergency appropriation is necessary 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 Ways and Means 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 Third Reading.