STAND. COM. REP. NO.  97-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   H.B. No. 2161

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 2161 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WATER,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to direct the Water Resources Research Center of the University of Hawaii to:

     (1)  Conduct a study on the impact of increased safety standards for dams and reservoirs adopted under Chapter 13-190.1, Hawaii Administrative Rules; and

     (2)  Submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the Legislature.

Alexander & Baldwin, Inc., Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Company, and Dole Food Co., Hawaii, testified in support of this measure.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawaii Farm Bureau, and Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc., provided comments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing its effective date to July 1, 2020, to encourage further discussion.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2161, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2161, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Higher Education.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water & Land,

____________________________

CINDY EVANS, Chair