STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3346

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 2965

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 2

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2965, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL WATER SECURITY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is ensure the security of the agricultural water supply by authorizing emergency measures to be taken in response to damages caused by natural disasters.

     Specifically, this measure authorizes the negotiation of agreements for the production of emergency power for agricultural water systems in the event of a disaster declared by the governor.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Department of Agriculture, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Island Resources, Ltd., and two concerned individuals.

     Your Committee finds that the security of the agricultural water supply is crucial to maintaining public health and well-being and ensuring the continued production of food and energy crops during an emergency.  The Kiholo earthquake in 2006 caused significant damage to irrigation systems on Hawaii, and farmers and ranchers were forced to incur significant expense to provide power for backup irrigation pumps.  Your Committee believes that this measure would allow agricultural producers to avoid similar hardships in the event of a future disaster and streamline their ability to continue production during an emergency.

     Upon further consideration, your Committee has amended this measure by making technical nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of consistency and style.

     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. 2965, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2965, H.D. 2, S.D. 2.

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

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair