STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1012-16

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2016

 

RE:   H.B. No. 2501

      H.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2501, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WATER RIGHTS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to allow the Board of Land and Natural Resources to authorize the holdover of a previously authorized water rights lease during the pendency of an application to renew the lease.

 

     The Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii, Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, Alexander and Baldwin, Inc., Hawaii Farm Bureau, Maui County Farm Bureau, Ponoholo Ranch, Kapapala Ranch, Kauai Island Utility Cooperative, Hawaii Crop Improvement Association, GO Maui, Kau Agricultural Water Cooperative District, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Building Industry Association of Hawaii, Pacific Resource Partnership, Monsanto, East Kauai Water Users' Cooperative, Hawaii Agriculture Research Center, and many individuals provided testimony in support of this measure.  The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Maui Tomorrow Foundation, Earthjustice, Kahea: The Hawaiian-Environmental Alliance, Native Hawaii Legal Corporation, Panaewa Hawaiian Home Lands Community Association, Kipahulu Ohana, American for Democratic Action Hawaii Chapter, and many individuals provided testimony in opposition.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, and a few individuals provided comments.


 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Adding a sunset date that repeals the Act in five years; and

 

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

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2501, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2501, H.D. 2.

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair