CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 164

Honolulu, Hawaii

                 , 2007

RE:    H.B. No. 400

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 2

       C.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir and Madam:

     Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the House of Representatives to the amendments proposed by the Senate in H.B. No. 400, H.D. 1, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

     The purpose of this bill is to provide a stable and reliable source of water for Hawaii's farmers by:

     (1)  Appropriating an unspecified amount of funds for drought mitigation projects and measures in each county; and

     (2)  Authorizing the issuance of an unspecified amount of general obligation bonds (GO bonds) to improve certain irrigation systems throughout the state.

     Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Inserting an appropriation amount of $4,000,000 for fiscal year 2007-2008 for the drought mitigation measures;

     (2)  Deleting the provisions authorizing the issuance of GO bonds to improve certain irrigation systems throughout the state;

     (3)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2007; and

     (4)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for style, clarity, and consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 400, H.D. 1, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 400, H.D. 1, S.D. 2, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

____________________________ RUSSELL S. KOKUBUN, Chair	____________________________ CLIFT TSUJI, Co-Chair
____________________________ SHAN S. TSUTSUI, Co-Chair	____________________________ TOM BROWER, Co-Chair