Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water, Land, and Agriculture, to which was referred S.B. No. 1257 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to repeal the Irrigation Water Development Special Fund.

The Board of Agriculture submitted comments on this measure.

Your Committee finds that the Irrigation Water Development Special Fund provided a vehicle for the Department of Agriculture to issue revenue bonds to acquire and improve former irrigation systems. However, this fund was never utilized because the Agribusiness Development Corporation was charged with the responsibility of administering the transition of agricultural infrastructure from plantation operations into other agricultural enterprises. Additionally, the Auditor has recommended that the Department of Agriculture terminate this inactive special fund.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, and Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1257 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.