STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1126

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 1345

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 1345, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate monies for the operation, repair, maintenance, and improvement of the East Kauai Water Users' Cooperative irrigation systems.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Dupont Pioneer, Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii, East Kauai Water Users' Cooperative, Kalepa Koalition, Syngenta Hawaii, Saiva Siddhanta Church, Kauai County Farm Bureau, Hawaii Farmers Union United and two individuals.

     Your Committee finds that reliable irrigation systems are the lifelines of Hawaii's agricultural community.  To ensure that Hawaii's agricultural crops receive a steady and dependable supply of water, irrigation systems need to be repaired, properly maintained, and improved to meet agricultural water requirements and to address extended water droughts.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Making technical amendments to clarify that the appropriation is for the operation, repair, maintenance, and improvement of the East Kauai irrigation system by the East Kauai Water Users' Cooperative; and

     (2)  Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

     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. 1345, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1345, H.D. 1, 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,

________________________________

RUSSELL E. RUDERMAN, Chair