HB400 SD1

PART I

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that a viable agriculture industry requires a steady, reliable supply of water. However, drought conditions continue to adversely affect our farms and ranches, hampering our ability to produce quality products on a consistent basis throughout the year.

The legislature believes that to address the harmful impact of droughts, mitigation measures laid out in the Hawaii drought plan must be implemented. The goal of the Hawaii drought plan is to develop coordinated emergency response mechanisms while at the same time outlining steps toward mitigating the effects of future drought occurrences. The Hawaii drought plan provides clear policies and specifies response entities to implement immediate, short-term and long-term response measures to mitigate the impact of droughts.

The legislature also finds that in 2004, county drought committees were formed for each of the four counties in Hawaii. Each of the county drought committees developed a drought mitigation strategy for its respective county, with a focus on drought mitigation projects. These county drought mitigation strategies represent the local needs and concerns of each county and are incorporated by reference into the Hawaii drought plan.

The legislature further finds that to implement the Hawaii drought plan adequately, sufficient funding to the counties is necessary to address the many challenges that our agriculture industry faces in preparing for droughts.

The purpose of this part is to provide funding to pursue drought mitigation projects and measures in each county of the State.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007-2008 for drought mitigation projects and measures in each county of the State.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of land and natural resources for the purposes of this part.

PART II

SECTION 3. A reliable irrigation system is the lifeblood of Hawaii's agricultural industry. To ensure that Hawaii's crops receive a steady and dependable supply of water, sufficient funding is needed to maintain and improve Hawaii's irrigation systems.

The purpose of this part is to appropriate funds for capital improvement projects for irrigation systems throughout the State.

SECTION 4. The director of finance is authorized to issue general obligation bonds in the sum of $11,000,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary shall be deposited into the irrigation repair and maintenance special fund for the repair and maintenance of irrigation systems as follows:

(1) $1,500,000 for the East Kauai irrigation system;

(2) $2,000,000 for the Waimanalo irrigation system;

(3) $2,500,000 for the Molokai irrigation system;

(4) $1,500,000 for the Upcountry Maui irrigation system;

(5) $1,000,000 for the Kau irrigation system;

(6) $1,000,000 for the Honomalino irrigation system;

(7) $1,500,000 for the Wahiawa reservoir and ditch system; and

(8) Other privately-owned irrigation systems on former sugarcane and pineapple plantation lands that have been converted to diversified agriculture.

SECTION 5. There is appropriated, for projects under section 4 of this Act, out of the irrigation repair and maintenance special fund under section 167-24, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the sum of $11,000,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007-2008. The projects are deemed necessary to qualify for federal aid financing or reimbursement.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of agriculture for purposes of this part.

SECTION 6. The appropriation made for the capital improvement projects authorized in this part shall not lapse at the end of the fiscal biennium for which the appropriation is made; provided that all moneys from the appropriation unencumbered as of June 30, 2010, shall lapse as of that date.

SECTION 7. This Act shall take effect upon approval.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	400
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII		S.D. 1