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. 3085 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for drought mitigation projects in each county for fiscal year 2006-2007.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Kaupo Ranch, Ltd., C&H Farms, the Maui County Farm Bureau, the Hawaii Agriculture Research Center, and the Hawaii Crop Improvement Association. Testimony in opposition to this measure was submitted by the Sierra Club, Hawaii Chapter.

Your Committee finds that a thriving agriculture industry is dependent upon a steady and reliable water supply. Drought conditions throughout the State have decreased production on farms and ranches, thus restricting the ability to consistently produce quality products throughout the year. Your Committee further finds that, in 2004, county drought committees were formed, each developing a drought mitigation strategy for its respective county with a focus on drought mitigation projects. These strategies are incorporated by reference in the Hawaii drought plan and require funding for their implementation.

Your Committee believes that implementation of the Hawaii drought plan is necessary in attempting to address the adverse effects of droughts and in developing coordinated emergency response mechanisms, while also outlining steps to mitigate the effects of future droughts.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

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. 3085, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3085, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.