STAND. COM. REP. NO 126

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 584

       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 S.B. No. 584 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO IRRIGATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to provide additional funding needed for improvements to irrigation systems throughout the State.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, and Hawaii Farmers Union United.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

     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 further finds that the Department of Agriculture and the Hawaii Farm Bureau have identified and proposed eleven irrigation projects throughout the State that are in need of capital improvements.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Inserting an appropriation amount of $4,150,000 for fiscal year 2015-2016;

     (2)  Adding an authorization for issuance of general obligation bonds and appropriation of $3,800,000 for fiscal year 2016-2017;

     (3)  Adding an additional authorization for issuance of general obligation bonds and appropriation of $12,935,000 for fiscal year 2015-2016;

     (4)  Designating eleven irrigation projects and funding allocations for capital improvements; and

     (5)  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 Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 584, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 584, 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