STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1033-20

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2020

RE: S.B. No. 2099

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred S.B. No. 2099, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO IRRIGATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to transfer operational authority over portions of the East Kauai Irrigation System from the East Kauai Water Users' Cooperative to the Department of Agriculture. Specifically, this measure provides a conditional extension of the deadline to acquire required permits, establishes and appropriates funds for positions within the Department of Agriculture, and authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds and appropriates funds for an irrigation system capital improvement project.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Kauai County Farm Bureau, Kalepa Koalition, Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii, Ulupono Initiative, Saiva Siddhanta Church, and two individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from Patients Without Time and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that providing irrigation support for East Kauai farmers is important and aligns with the State's food security goals.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the general fund appropriation to an unspecified amount;

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2150, to encourage further discussion; and

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

Your Committee notes the concerns raised in the public hearing regarding uncertainty over the ownership of the East Kauai Irrigation System and the lands along the System and believes these issues should be clarified as this measure progresses. Should your Committee on Labor and Public Employment deliberate on this measure, your Committee respectfully requests that it resolve these issues.

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. 2099, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2099, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Labor & Public Employment.

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

____________________________

RICHARD P. CREAGAN, Chair