STAND. COM. REP. NO. 710

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: H.B. No. 769

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 769 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO IRRIGATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Authorize the transfer of operational authority over the portions of the East Kauai Irrigation System (System) operated and maintained by the East Kauai Water Users Cooperative to the Department of Agriculture's (DOA) Agricultural Resources Management Division (Division);

(2) Authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds in an unspecified amount to assist DOA with plans, designs, land acquisition, and equipment to increase state irrigation system capacity statewide; and

(3) Appropriate funds for the operation and maintenance of the System, including salaries and expenses for an unspecified number of Division staff for specified staffing positions.

The Department of Agriculture, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, Hawaii Farmers Union, East Kauai Water Users' Cooperative, Kalepa Koalition, O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, and a concerned individual supported this measure.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing its effective date to July 1, 2150, to encourage further discussion.

Your Committee notes that the testimony lacked an essential component that is necessary for decision-making on this measure, that is, the actual number of Division staff that is required to efficiently and effectively operate and maintain the System and the justification for that number.

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 H.B. No. 769, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 769, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture,

____________________________

RICHARD P. CREAGAN, Chair