STAND. COM. REP. NO. 352-04
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2004
RE: H.B. No. 2799
H.D. 1
Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twenty-Second State Legislature
Regular Session of 2004
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 2799 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PERTAINING TO AGRICULTURE,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this bill is to authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds to fund:
(1) The implementation of a comprehensive state agricultural water use and development plan;
(2) The planning and design of the Honomalino irrigation system to provide a reliable source of agricultural water to the South Kona region; and
(3) An agricultural dual line water system to supply untreated and affordable water to irrigate 473 acres of cropland in the Upper Kula area.
The Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Hawaii Agriculture Research Center, Maui County Farm Bureau, Kula Vista Protea, and Honomalino Irrigation Cooperative testified in support of this measure. The Department of Agriculture offered comments.
Your Committee recognizes the need for improvements to Hawaii's irrigation systems. Because the availability and delivery of reliable irrigation water are critical to the continued growth and expansion of Hawaii's agricultural industry, the State must provide the funding needed to preserve this invaluable agricultural resource.
Your Committee has amended this bill by:
(1) Clarifying that these projects are deemed necessary to qualify for federal aid financing or reimbursement;
(2) Exempting the South Kona and Upcountry Kula projects from the lapsing date provision because federal funds may be received after June 30, 2006; and
(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.
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 H.B. No. 2799, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2799, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture,
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____________________________ FELIPE P. ABINSAY, JR., Chair |
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