Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 2870 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to provide for more efficient agricultural use of scarce water resources by appropriating $1,000,000 for the State Agricultural Water Use and Development Plan.

The Hawaii Crop Improvement Association, Pineapple Growers Association of Hawaii, Alexander & Baldwin, Inc., Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Company, Kauai Coffee Company, Inc., Hawaii Agriculture Research Center, C&H Farms, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, and Maui County Farm Bureau supported this bill. The Department of Agriculture supported the intent of this bill. Earthjustice opposed this measure. The Department of Land and Natural Resources submitted comments.

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. 2870 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.