STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2149

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2667

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Water, Land, and Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 2667 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WATER,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish a joint legislative committee on water security to delineate the meaning of water security and establish benchmarks to track improvements in water security in order to provide for reliable, adequate, and sustainable water systems to meet current and future agricultural and population needs.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Hawaii Cattlemen's Association, Alexander & Baldwin, Big Island Farm Bureau, and Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

     Your Committee finds that changing climate conditions make water security one of the most important issues facing farmers and ranchers.  Agriculture's long-term success is almost completely dependent upon water and farmers and ranchers need assurances of their access to water.  Thus, establishing a water policy that provides crops and livestock with a dependable source of affordable water will support and sustain agricultural operations in Hawaii.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, and Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2667 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 Water, Land, and Housing,

____________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair