STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1132

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2011

RE:   S.B. No. 14

      S.D. 2

      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 Committees on Agriculture and Water, Land, & Ocean Resources, to which was referred S.B. No. 14, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to enhance public safety and address needed infrastructure improvements by:

     (1)  Expanding the authorized uses of the Agricultural Development and Food Security Special Fund (Special Fund) to include dams and reservoirs, and specifying that authorized uses include investigative studies to identify and assess necessary improvements to dams, reservoirs, irrigation systems, and transportation networks; and

     (2)  Authorizing the issuance of general obligation bonds and depositing its revenues into the Special Fund for plans, design, construction, and other related costs for dam, reservoir, or irrigation system improvements.

     The Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation; Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii; Dole Food Company Hawaii; Alexander & Baldwin, Inc.; Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Company; and Kauai Coffee Company supported this bill.  The Department of Agriculture supported the intent of this measure.

     Upon further consideration, your Committees have amended this measure by:

     (1)  Adding water quality testing and improvements to the list of permitted uses for the Special Fund;

     (2)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2020, to encourage further discussion; and

     (3)  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 that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 14, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 14, S.D. 2, 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,

____________________________ JERRY L. CHANG, Chair

____________________________ CLIFT TSUJI, Chair