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. 1495 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate state funds to supplement federal funding for further development and planning of the Hawaii Drought Plan.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Board of Water Supply, Maui County Farm Bureau, and Pineapple Growers Association of Hawaii. Testimony in support of the intent of the measure was submitted by the Board of Agriculture. Testimony in opposition to the measure was submitted by the Commission on Water Resource Management of the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Your Committee finds that droughts can be devastating to Hawaii's economy, people, and way of life. A comprehensive, well-coordinated drought plan would significantly reduce the impacts of drought in Hawaii by providing a coordinated response mechanism.

Your Committee further finds that the first phase of the Hawaii Drought Plan, although complete, needs more detail in its second phase to qualify Hawaii for federal funding under the U.S. Department of Interior's Bureau of Reclamation Program.

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. 1495 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.