Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water, Land, and Agriculture, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 180, H.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Board of Agriculture and the Agribusiness Development Corporation to aggressively pursue federal funds for the repair and maintenance of irrigation systems that support agricultural production.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Mayor of the County of Maui, Alexander & Baldwin, Inc., Hawaii Crop Improvement Association, Meadow Gold Dairies, and the Pineapple Growers Association of Hawaii. Testimony in opposition to this measure was submitted by the Department of Agriculture. Comments on the measure were also submitted by the Agribusiness Development Corporation.

The Legislature is in the process of establishing the Irrigation Repair and Maintenance Special Fund to be administered by the Board of Agriculture, in conjunction with the Agribusiness Development Corporation. Many of the irrigation systems used and maintained for agricultural production have fallen into disrepair for lack of proper maintenance. The purpose of the special fund is to provide for repair and maintenance of private and public irrigation systems used for agricultural production.

Your Committee finds that the Board of Agriculture and the Agricultural Development Corporation should aggressively seek federal money as matching funds that the State will deposit into the Special Fund to repair and maintain irrigation systems that support agricultural production. Accordingly, this measure requests the Board of Agriculture and the Agricultural Development Corporation to seek that type of federal support.

Your Committee notes concerns from the Department of Agriculture that this measure sets up an unrealistic expectation that public funds will be available to address the repair and maintenance of privately owned agricultural irrigation systems. The Department of Agriculture further mentioned concerns regarding the need for the federal government to provide specific sums of money in order for the State to transfer the sums it intends to appropriate.

However, your Committee emphasizes that this measure does not contain any mention of money amounts or conditions of how or when state money will be transferred. This measure marks the initiation of the concept of the fund, and the absence of specific monetary amounts was excluded on purpose to accentuate the team effort needed to receive federal funding.

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 concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 180, H.D. 1, and recommends its adoption.