STAND. COM. REP. NO. 234

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 1283

       S.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred S.B. No. 1283 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO IRRIGATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize the Director of Finance to issue general obligation bonds to finance improvements to the Kekaha ditch system, East Kauai irrigation system, Ka‘u irrigation system, and Waiahole irrigation system.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Agribusiness Development Corporation, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Local Food Coalition, and Hawaii Cattlemen's Council.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

     Your Committee finds that these funds are necessary to maintain and improve the State's critical irrigation systems to ensure a reliable supply of water for crops.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Appropriating funds from the State's general fund, rather than general obligation bonds, to improve the Kekaha ditch system and East Kauai irrigation system; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     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. 1283, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1283, S.D. 1, 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