HB400 SD2

PART I

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that a viable agriculture industry requires a steady, reliable supply of water. However, drought conditions continue to adversely affect our farms and ranches, hampering our ability to produce quality products on a consistent basis throughout the year.

The legislature believes that to address the harmful impact of droughts, mitigation measures laid out in the Hawaii drought plan must be implemented. The goal of the Hawaii drought plan is to develop coordinated emergency response mechanisms while at the same time outlining steps toward mitigating the effects of future drought occurrences. The Hawaii drought plan provides clear policies and specifies response entities to implement immediate, short-term and long-term response measures to mitigate the impact of droughts.

The legislature also finds that in 2004, county drought committees were formed for each of the four counties in Hawaii. Each of the county drought committees developed a drought mitigation strategy for its respective county, with a focus on drought mitigation projects. These county drought mitigation strategies represent the local needs and concerns of each county and are incorporated by reference into the Hawaii drought plan.

The legislature further finds that to implement the Hawaii drought plan adequately, sufficient funding to the counties is necessary to address the many challenges that our agriculture industry faces in preparing for droughts.

The purpose of this part is to provide funding to pursue drought mitigation projects and measures in each county of the State.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007-2008 for drought mitigation projects and measures in each county of the State.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of land and natural resources for the purposes of this part.

PART II

SECTION 3. A reliable irrigation system is the lifeblood of Hawaii's agricultural industry. To ensure that Hawaii's crops receive a steady and dependable supply of water, sufficient funding is needed to maintain and improve Hawaii's irrigation systems.

The purpose of this part is to appropriate funds for capital improvement projects for irrigation systems throughout the State.

SECTION 4. The director of finance is authorized to issue general obligation bonds in the sum of $ 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 2007-2008 for the purpose of improving irrigation systems in the State, as follows:

(1) $ for the East Kauai irrigation system;

(2) $ for the Waimanalo irrigation system;

(3) $ for the Molokai irrigation system;

(4) $ for the Upcountry Maui irrigation system;

(5) $ for the Kau irrigation system;

(6) $ for the Honomalino irrigation system; and

(7) $ for the Wahiawa reservoir and ditch system.

The appropriations made for the capital improvement irrigation projects authorized in this section are deemed necessary to qualify for federal aid financing or reimbursement.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of agriculture for the purposes of this part.

SECTION 5. The agricultural industry is an important component of the State's economic and social well-being. This measure provides some of the necessary money and incentives needed to make improvements on irrigation systems statewide. The legislature finds that it is in the public interest to perform the improvements in this Act.

SECTION 6. The appropriation made for the capital improvement projects authorized in this part 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, 2010, shall lapse as of that date.

SECTION 7. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	400
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII		S.D. 2