STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2039

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 2000

                                   RE:  S.B. No. 2528
                                        




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Economic Development, to which was
referred S.B. No. 2528 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR EMERGENCY
     REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE OF HAMAKUA DITCH FACILITIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to appropriate $100,000 for
fiscal year 2000-2001, and the same sum for fiscal year 2001-
2002, for emergency repair and maintenance of Hamakua Ditch
facilities.

     Testimony in favor of this measure was submitted by the
Department of Agriculture and Hawaii Farm Bureau.

     Your Committee finds that continued maintenance of the
Hamakua Ditch is essential to the success of diversified
agriculture on the Hamakua coast.  Since the bankruptcy of
Hamakua Sugar Company, however, the facilities have deteriorated
badly.  Your Committee has heard that the Department of
Agriculture has initiated a federally assisted watershed project
for major repairs and is establishing a revenue producing
irrigation system that will provide for maintenance.  These funds
will not be available until meters are installed and connected,
and this measure will provide funding for the two-year interim
period.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Economic Development that is attached to this

 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2039
                                   Page 2


report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose
of S.B. No. 2528 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and
be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Economic
                                   Development,



                                   ______________________________
                                   LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair

 
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