STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2401

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2856

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Water, Land, and Housing and Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred S.B. No. 2856 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE VII, SECTION 12, OF THE HAWAII STATE CONSTITUTION TO ASSIST DAM AND RESERVOIR OWNERS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to propose an amendment to article VII, section 12, of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii, to authorize the State to issue special purpose revenue bonds and use the proceeds from the bonds to assist dam and reservoir owners.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Department of Budget and Finance; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; Maui Cattlemen's Association; Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii; Ka‘u Farm Bureau; Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation; Alexander & Baldwin, Inc.; and one individual.

     Your Committees find that dams and reservoirs provide many public benefits and are a critical part of our State's infrastructure.  Many of the dams and reservoirs in the State were constructed before 1940.  This measure will provide dam and reservoir owners with a means to improve the safety of the dams and reservoirs in our State.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water, Land, and Housing and Judiciary and Labor that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2856 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Water, Land, and Housing and Judiciary and Labor,

____________________________ CLAYTON HEE, Chair

____________________________ DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair