THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2846

TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2018

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING to irrigation.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  (a)  The following positions are established within the agricultural resource management division of the department of agriculture:

     (1)  One full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) irrigation district manager position (SR21);

     (2)  Three full-time equivalent (3.0 FTE) irrigation system worker II positions (BC07); and

     (3)  One full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) office assistant III position (SR-08).

     (b)  The portions of the east Kauai irrigation system operated and maintained by the east Kauai water users' cooperative as of July 1, 2018, shall be placed under the operational authority of the department of agriculture upon adoption of rules pursuant to chapter 91, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to implement this section.  The operational authority shall not be governed by chapter 167 or 168, Hawaii Revised Statutes, for acreage assessment or water delivery fees.  The department of agriculture may contract with the east Kauai water users' cooperative to bill and collect any fees from the users and enter into any and all contracts necessary to operate and maintain the system, including operation and maintenance contracts while positions are filled.  All fees collected by the east Kauai water users' cooperative shall be deposited in the general fund of the State by the department of agriculture.

     (c)  The three-year water licensing deadline may be extended for up to two years; provided that the applicant demonstrates significant progress in the permit application process.

     SECTION 2.  All appropriations, records, equipment, machines, files, supplies, contracts, books, papers, documents, maps, and other personal property heretofore made, used, acquired, or held by the east Kauai water users' cooperative relating to the functions transferred to the department of agriculture shall be listed in a full accounting to the department of agriculture with the functions to which they relate.

     SECTION 3.  The director of finance is authorized to issue general obligation bonds in the sum of $2,000,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary is appropriated for fiscal year 2018-2019 for the purpose of assisting the agricultural resource management division with plans, designs, land acquisition, and equipment to increase state irrigation system capacity statewide, including:

     (1)  $1,997,000 for planning;

     (2)  $1,000 for design;

     (3)  $1,000 for land acquisition; and

     (4)  $1,000 for equipment.

     SECTION 4.  The appropriation made for the capital improvement project authorized by section 3 of this Act shall not lapse at the end of the fiscal biennium for which the appropriation is made; provided that all moneys from the appropriation unencumbered as of June 30, 2023, shall lapse as of that date.

     SECTION 5.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $500,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2018-2019 for the operations and maintenance of the east Kauai irrigation system, including the following agricultural resource management division staff salaries and expenses:

     (1)  One full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) irrigation district manager position (SR21) established pursuant to this Act;

     (2)  Three full-time equivalent (3.0 FTE) irrigation system worker II positions (BC07) established pursuant to this Act;

     (3)  One full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) office assistant III position (SR-08) established pursuant to this Act;

     (4)  Fifty per cent of the funding for the engineering program manager position (EM07-PN:  40998), which shall be transferred from the non-agricultural park lands special fund to the general fund; and

     (5)  Fifty per cent of the funding for the agricultural lands program manager position (EM05-PN:  122475), which shall be transferred from the agricultural park special fund to the general fund.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of agriculture for the purposes of this Act.


     SECTION 6.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2018.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

East Kauai Irrigation System; Transfer of Operational Authority; Department of Agriculture; Appropriation

 

Description:

Transfers operational authority over the portions of the east Kauai irrigation system operated and maintained by the east Kauai water users' cooperative as of July 1, 2018, to the department of agriculture upon adoption of rules.  Establishes positions within the agricultural resource management division.  Authorizes GO bonds.  Makes an appropriation.

 

 

 

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