STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2241

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2645

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Agriculture and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2645 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DROUGHT MITIGATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to provide funding to pursue drought mitigation projects and measures in each county of the State.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Department of Agriculture, Department of Land and Natural Resources, County of Maui, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Maui County Farm Bureau, Hawaii Agriculture Research Center, and Hawaii Crop Improvement Association.

     Your Committee finds that a viable agriculture industry requires a steady, reliable supply of water.  However, drought conditions continue to adversely affect Hawaii's farms and ranches, hampering their ability to produce quality products on a consistent basis throughout the year.

     Your Committee further finds that to address the harmful impacts of droughts, mitigation measures laid out in the Hawaii Drought Plan must be implemented.  The goal of the Hawaii Drought Plan is to develop coordinated emergency response mechanisms while at the same time outlining steps toward mitigating the effects of future drought occurrences.  The Hawaii Drought Plan provides clear policies and specifies response entities to implement immediate, short-term, and long-term response measures to mitigate the impact of droughts.

     Your Committee also finds that in 2004, county drought committees were formed for each of the four counties in Hawaii.  Each of the county drought committees developed a drought mitigation strategy for its respective county, with a focus on drought mitigation projects.  These county drought mitigation strategies represent the local needs and concerns of each county and are incorporated by reference into the Hawaii Drought Plan.

     The Legislature further finds that to adequately implement the Hawaii Drought Plan, sufficient funding for the counties is necessary to address the many challenges that our agriculture industry faces in preparing for droughts.

     Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by requiring that the Department of Land and Natural Resources work with the drought committee of each county of the State so that at least one project is funded for each county.

     Your Committee recommends that any future committee hearing this matter consider appropriating $4,000,000 for the purposes of this measure.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture and Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2645, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2645, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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

____________________________

JILL TOKUDA, Chair