STAND. COM. REP. 2099

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2004

RE: S.B. No. 2130

S.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water, Land, and Agriculture, to which was referred S.B. No. 2130 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE EAST KAUAI IRRIGATION SYSTEM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate $100,000 for the continued operation and maintenance of the east Kauai irrigation system for fiscal year 2004-2005.

The Office of Economic Development, Kauai County; Department of Water, Kauai County; a member of the Kauai County Council; East Kauai Water Users' Cooperative; Hawaii Agriculture Research Center; Hawaii Farm Bureau; Kauai County Farm Bureau; Smith's Motor Boat Service, Inc.; Agro Resources, Inc.; and Saiva Siddhanta Church submitted testimony in support of the measure. Agribusiness Development Corporation submitted testimony supporting the intent of the measure.

Your Committee finds that reliable irrigation water is critical for the survival of agricultural crops in the Kapa'a area. The East Kauai Water Users' Cooperative has done an excellent job of operating and maintaining the state-owned system, but is faced with a funding shortfall.

Your Committee heard some testifiers' belief that the funds appropriated under this measure could be diverted to other budgetary priorities if the intended recipients were not specifically identified. To allay that concern, your Committee has amended the measure by including language that specifically earmarks the appropriated funds for use by the East Kauai Water Users' Cooperative to operate and maintain the east Kauai irrigation system.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, and Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2130, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2130, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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

____________________________

LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair