STAND. COM. REP. NO.  870-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.B. No. 2737

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2737 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WATER RESOURCES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to support the development of new water sources by appropriating funds, dependent on matching funds from the federal and county governments, for the planning and design of a reservoir to serve the agricultural and residential needs of Upcountry Maui.

     The Maui County Farm Bureau, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Kula Community Association, and many concerned individuals testified in support of this bill.  The Department of Agriculture and several concerned individuals provided comments.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Removing the appropriation amount to encourage further discussion;

     (2)  Clarifying the specific details of the matching fund requirements;

     (3)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2020; and

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

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2737, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2737, H.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair