CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 12-16

Honolulu, Hawaii

                 , 2016

RE:    S.B. No. 2788

       H.D. 1

       C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sirs:

     Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 2788, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE MOLOKAI IRRIGATION SYSTEM WATER USERS ADVISORY BOARD,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

     The purpose of this measure is to amend the eligibility requirements for membership on the Molokai Irrigation System Water Users Advisory Board.

Specifically, this measure:

     (1)  Authorizes agents, officers, or employees of Molokai irrigation system users to be Molokai Irrigation System Water Users Advisory Board members; and

     (2)  Removes the requirement that Molokai Irrigation System Water Users Advisory Board members be active general excise tax licensees.

     Your Committee on Conference finds that the Molokai Irrigation System is the only agricultural water source on Molokai and therefore sustains agriculture on Molokai.  The Molokai Irrigation System Water Users Advisory Board advises the Department of Agriculture on matters concerning use of the system; therefore, it is necessary that the Board be able to establish a quorum and hold official meetings frequently.  Passage of this measure will facilitate the Board in conducting its duties in an efficient and effective manner.

     Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Making it effective upon its approval; and

     (2)  Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2788, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2788, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ CLIFT TSUJI, Co-Chair	____________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair
____________________________ RYAN I. YAMANE, Co-Chair	____________________________ J. KALANI ENGLISH, Co-Chair
____________________________ LYNN DECOITE, Co-Chair