STAND. COM. REP. NO.  486

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

 

RE:   H.B. No. 403

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 403 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE EAST KAUAI IRRIGATION SYSTEM,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for the operation and maintenance of the East Kauai Irrigation System.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Agribusiness Development Corporation, the County of Kauai Office of Economic Development, the County of Kauai Department of Water, the Kauai County Farm Bureau, the Hawaii Crop Improvement Association, the Hawaii Agriculture Research Center, the East Kauai Water Users' Cooperative, and the Saiva Siddhanta Church.

 

     Your Committee finds that after Amfac Sugar Company ceased operation of its ditch and reservoir systems on Kauai, the East Kauai Water Users' Cooperative obtained the necessary permits to continue operation of the systems as the East Kauai Irrigation System.  The Cooperative, however, is facing a critical funding shortfall because the user fees charged by the Cooperative are insufficient to pay for the operating and maintenance expenses of the System.

 

     This measure would provide the necessary funds to continue the operation and maintenance of the East Kauai Irrigation System.

 

     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. 403 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

CLIFT TSUJI, Chair