STAND. COM. REP. NO. 460

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1542

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Water and Land and Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 1542 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AN APPROPRIATION FOR A KUNIA WELLS IV EXPLORATORY WELL,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds and appropriate funds for the design and construction of an exploratory well for the proposed Kunia wells IV pump station.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Agribusiness Development Corporation; Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i; Local Food Coalition; Hawaii Crop Improvement Association; and Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.

Your Committees find that Oahu farmers require greater amounts of potable water for irrigation and compliance with federal Food Safety and Modernization Act rules. Your Committees further find that the four exploratory water wells for the proposed Kunia wells IV pump station will provide additional water supply for growth, including diversified agriculture.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying the purpose section to better reflect the Board of Water Supply proposals regarding the proposed Kunia wells IV pump station;

(2) Clarifying that the purpose of the proposed Kunia wells IV pump station is to meet future potable water requirements for growth, including diversified agriculture;

(3) Inserting an effective date of December 31, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water and Land and Agriculture and Environment that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1542, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1542, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Water and Land and Agriculture and Environment,

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair

________________________________ KAIALI'I KAHELE, Chair