STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2073

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2217

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Water, Land, and Agriculture, to which was referred S.B. No. 2217 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 funds for the operation, repair, maintenance, and improvement of the East Kauai irrigation system by the East Kauai Water Users' Cooperative.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; University of Hawai‘i System; East Kauai Water Users' Cooperative; Saiva Siddhanta Church; Kalepa Koalition; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; Larry Jefts Farms, LLC; Hawaii Cattlemens Council; and three individuals.

     Your Committee finds that reliable irrigation systems are the lifelines of Hawaii's agricultural community.  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 inserting an appropriation amount of $75,000.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, and Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2217, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2217, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water, Land, and Agriculture,

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MIKE GABBARD, Chair