STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2656

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 3026

       S.D. 2

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 3026, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS FOR THE WAIMEA-PAAUILO WATERSHED PROJECT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds and appropriate funds for the design, planning, and construction of the Waimea-Paauilo watershed project.  

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture and the Ulupono Initiative.  One individual submitted written comments in opposition to this measure.

     The Waimea-Paauilo watershed is approximately 143,000 acres and is located on the island of Hawaii.  Your Committee finds that a major problem with the Waimea-Paauilo watershed is an inadequate water supply caused by insufficient agricultural water storage reservoirs and a faulty water collection system.  Your Committee believes that the Waimea-Paauilo watershed project would improve agricultural water management by building a more efficient irrigation and livestock water distribution system.  Your Committee also anticipates that crop production would be improved because the project will help alleviate drought conditions on the island of Hawaii.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to

facilitate further discussion on this measure; and

(2)  Making technical nonsubstantive amendments for clarity,

consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3026, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3026, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair