STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1321-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   H.C.R. No. 243

      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.C.R. No. 243 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO CREATE A DROUGHT PLAN FOR MOLOKAI AND IMPROVE THE MOLOKAI IRRIGATION SYSTEM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to address the drought conditions on Molokai that have a severe impact on Molokai farmers by urging the Department of Agriculture (DOA) to prepare a coordinated plan for the prudent management of water supplies on Molokai during drought conditions and to pursue improvements that Hawaiian homestead farmers and other water users have requested for the Molokai Irrigation System.

Two concerned individuals supported this concurrent resolution.  The Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation supported this measure with amendments.  DOA provided comments.

     Your Committee finds that the Department of Agriculture (DOA) is currently undertaking the completion of a statewide Agricultural Water Use and Development Plan, as required by the Water Code.  Your Committee finds that due to DOA's limited staff resources, it is prudent that the Department focus on its current, statutorily mandated activities and not undertake additional, duplicative measures.  Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Amending its title to read: "URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS THE REQUEST BY HAWAIIAN HOMESTEAD FARMERS AND OTHER USERS RELATING TO THE MOLOKAI IRRIGATION SYSTEM IN THE DEPARTMENT'S AGRICULTURAL WATER USE AND DEVELOPMENT PLAN.";

     (2)  Urging DOA to specifically address the improvements to the Molokai Irrigation System requested by Hawaiian homestead farmers and other water users in its Agricultural Water Use and Development Plan;

     (3)  Amending the contents of the requested report from DOA to reflect the amended contents of this measure; and

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

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 243, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Water & Land in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 243, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

JESSICA WOOLEY, Chair