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 S.B. No. 2753 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to make an appropriation for the operation and maintenance of the East Kauai Irrigation System.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Agribusiness Development Corporation (ADC); the Office of Hawaiian Affairs; the County of Kauai's Office of Economic Development; East Kauai Water Users' Cooperative; the Hawaii Agriculture Research Center; the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation; the Kauai County Farm Bureau; Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.; and the Saiva Siddhanta Church.

Your Committee finds that reliable irrigation water is critical for the survival of agricultural crops in the State, and many of the irrigation systems, like the East Kauai Irrigation System, are experiencing difficulty in funding ongoing operations and maintenance of the systems. Thus, this measure appropriates moneys to provide the East Kauai Water Users' Cooperative to operate and maintain its irrigation system, provided that this funding does not replace any other moneys appropriated for fiscal year 2006-2007.

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. 2753 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.