STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1479

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2011

RE:   S.B. No. 142

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 142, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DAMS AND RESERVOIRS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to require the Board of Land and Natural Resources to:

     (1)  Consider dams and reservoirs as important water resources for the State that provide significant public benefits; and

     (2)  Acknowledge the need for dams and reservoirs to be maintained and operated in a safe and feasible manner that sustains their role as important water resources.

     The Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Alexander & Baldwin, Inc., Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Company, and Kauai Coffee Company supported this bill.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources submitted comments.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by changing its effective date to July 1, 2030, to encourage further discussion.

     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 S.B. No. 142, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 142, S.D. 1, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair