STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2355

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 3031

       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. 3031 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO IRRIGATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds to finance improvements to irrigation systems throughout the State.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; Maui County Farm Bureau; Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii; Ulupono Initiative; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council; Ponoholo Ranch, Limited; Larry Jefts Farms, LLC; and thirteen individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance, Hawaii Farmers Union United, and one individual.

     Your Committee finds that a reliable irrigation system is the lifeline of Hawaii's agricultural industry.  To ensure that Hawaii's crops receive a steady and dependable supply of water, sufficient funding is needed to maintain and improve Hawaii's irrigation systems.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Inserting an appropriation amount of $12,700,000;

     (2)  Inserting specific irrigation system improvement projects and funding allocations; and

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     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. 3031, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3031, 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