STAND. COM. REP. NO.  560

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.B. No. 715

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Agriculture and Water, Land, Ocean Resources & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 715 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE PURCHASE OF WATER FOR AGRICULTURAL USE ON LANAI,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to support the development of agriculture on Lanai by appropriating funds for the purchase of water by Lanai farmers for agricultural use.

     The Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation and a concerned individual supported this bill.  The Department of Agriculture (DOA) supported the intent of this bill but expressed concerns.

     Your Committees note that concerns were raised during the public hearing regarding whether the funds will be made available to those in the 100 acre agricultural park, as referenced in the purpose section, or anywhere on Lanai.  In addition, it was unclear as to who qualifies as a "farmer" and the amount of the match offered by Lanai Water Company, as described in the purpose section.  Your Committees support future legislative efforts to address these issues.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050 to encourage further discussion; and

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

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Water, Land, Ocean Resources & Hawaiian Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 715, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 715, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Agriculture and Water, Land, Ocean Resources & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________ KEN ITO, Chair

____________________________ CLIFT TSUJI, Chair