STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1619

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 400

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 2

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 400, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to provide funding for drought mitigation projects and measures in each county and to appropriate funds for irrigation system capital improvement projects.

     Three members of the Maui County Council, the Hawaii Farm Bureau, the County of Kauai Department of Water, and the Hawaii Agriculture Research Center submitted comments in support of the measure.  The Department of Agriculture and the Department of Land and Natural Resources commented on the bill.

     Your Committee finds that agriculture, and particularly crop production, is an important part of Hawaii's economy.  Droughts can affect crop yields, the livestock industry, water supply, commerce, the environment, and public health.

     Your Committee finds that an appropriation is necessary to further develop and implement previously developed drought plans.  In addition, an appropriation is necessary to maintain and improve a reliable irrigation system on each island to ensure the viability of Hawaii's agricultural industry.

     Your Committee has amended the measure by:

     (1)  Directly appropriating the proceeds of the general obligation bonds authorized, rather than depositing those funds into the irrigation repair and maintenance fund in section 4 of the bill;

     (2)  Changing the appropriations to unspecified amounts; and

     (3)  Changing the effective date of the Act from upon approval to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion.

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

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair