STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2772

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2217

       S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

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

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; East Kauai Water Users' Cooperative; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council; Hawaii Farm Bureau; Isle Interpret, LLC; Kalepa Koalition; Saiva Siddhanta Church; and one individual.

     Your Committee finds that reliable irrigation systems are the lifelines of the State's agricultural community and that the East Kauai irrigation system should be repaired, properly maintained, and improved to ensure that agricultural crops receive a steady and dependable supply of water.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing the appropriation from $75,000 to an unspecified amount; and

     (2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure.

     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. 2217, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2217, S.D. 2.

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

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JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair