STAND. COM. REP. NO. 954

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 1999

                                   RE:  H.B. No. 980
                                        H.D. 2




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Economic Development, to which was
referred H.B. No. 980, H.D. 2, entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO IRRIGATION WATER
     DEVELOPMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:
     
     The purpose of this measure is to assess only cultivatable
lands within the irrigation district boundaries.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure
from the Department of Agriculture

     Your Committee finds that when these irrigation districts
were established, many of the current environmental laws and
resource management regulations were not in effect.  As a result
of changes to the law, cultivation of stream beds, dry gulches,
etc., are no longer allowed and owners derive no income from
these lands.  This measure will give the department the legal
authority to remove such lands from the revenue base, charging
owners only for cultivatable lands.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Economic Development that is attached to this
report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose
of H.B. No. 980, H.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Second
Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.


 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 954
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                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Economic
                                   Development,



                                   ______________________________
                                   LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair

 
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