STAND. COM. REP. NO. 442-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   H.B. No. 2179

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 2179 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LOWER HAMAKUA DITCH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to support diversified agricultural production to achieve the State's goal of food sustainability and self-sufficiency by establishing a cap for five years on the toll for water provided to water users by the Lower Hamakua Ditch irrigation system.

The Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Ulupono Initiative, and two concerned individuals supported this bill.  The Hawaii Cattlemen's Council supported the intent of this measure.  The Department of Agriculture provided comments on this bill.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion.

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for style, clarity, and consistency.

     Should the Committee on Finance deliberate on this measure, your Committee requests that it cap the toll for water provided by the Lower Hamakua Ditch at 50 cents per one thousand gallons.

     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 H.B. No. 2179, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2179, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

JESSICA WOOLEY, Chair