STAND. COM. REP. NO. 108

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 1209

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred S.B. No. 1209 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE EAST KAUAI IRRIGATION SYSTEM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to make an appropriation for the operation and maintenance of the East Kauai Irrigation System.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; the Agribusiness Development Corporation; the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation; the East Kauai Water Users' Cooperative; the Kauai County Farm Bureau; Syngenta Hawaii LLC; the Hawaii Cattlemen's Council; Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.; the Hawaii Crop Improvement Association; and the Kaua‘i Chamber of Commerce.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

     Your Committee finds that reliable irrigation water is critical for the survival of agricultural crops in Kapaa on the island of Kauai.  This measure will assist the East Kauai Water Users' Cooperative to continue its operation and maintenance of the East Kauai Irrigation System, especially in light of the fact that no appropriation has been released to the Cooperative in the past two years to maintain the System.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1209 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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

____________________________

CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair