Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water, Land Use, and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 1495, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to appropriate an unspecified amount of state funds for fiscal year 2003-2004 to fund Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the Hawaii Drought Plan.

The Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Pineapple Growers Association of Hawaii, and Maui County Farm Bureau offered testimony in support of this measure. The Board of Agriculture supported the intent of this measure, but deferred to the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR). DLNR opposed this measure.

Your Committee finds that droughts are potentially devastating to Hawaii's economy. It not only damages the agriculture and livestock industry, but also adversely affects our tourist industry, which is dependent on the State's natural beauty and verdant vegetation and forests.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land Use, and Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1495, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.