STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1071

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 400

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 400, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to assist in the planning and implementing of a long range plan that will help Hawaii's agricultural industry achieve self-sufficiency during times of drought.

     The measure accomplishes this purpose by appropriating funds for each county to adequately implement drought mitigation strategies and plans.

     Testimony is support of this measure was submitted by the Department of Land and Natural Resources; the Department of Agriculture; two Council Members, County of Maui; the Department of Water, County of Kauai; the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation; the Maui County Farm Bureau; the Hawaii Agricultural Research Center; and the Hawaii Crop Improvement Association.

     The effects of droughts can be devastating for Hawaii agricultural producers.  Droughts can last for years and during that time, crop yields can fall dramatically and farms can close.  In addition to agriculture and livestock industries, droughts affect water supply, commerce, the environment, and public health.

     The Hawaii Drought Plan and the County Drought Mitigation Strategies identify and recommend the implementation of drought mitigation actions, subject to available funding.  These drought mitigation strategies were developed in consultation with key stakeholders who participated as representative members on each respective local county drought committees.  The county committees identified and prioritized projects to help reduce the impact of droughts in their communities.  Your Committee finds that an appropriation of funds will signal the importance of these projects and assist in the implementation of the drought strategies and plans in each county.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Adding a new part to this measure and adopting the language in S.B. No. 1941, S.D. 1, that appropriates $11,000,000 in general obligation bonds to be deposited into the Irrigation Repair and Maintenance Special Fund for repair and maintenance of irrigation systems in East Kaua‘i, Waimanalo, Moloka‘i, Upcountry Maui, Ka‘u, Honomalino, Wahiawa, and other privately-owned irrigation systems on former sugarcane and pineapple plantation lands that have been converted to diversified agriculture;

     (2)  Changing the effective date of this measure from July 1, 2020, to effective upon approval; and

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive changes for the purposes of style and consistency.

     Your Committee believes that this measure, as amended, fulfills the purpose of this measure, which is to assist in the planning and implementing of a long range plan that will help Hawaii's agricultural industry.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 400, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 400, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

RUSSELL S. KOKUBUN, Chair