STAND. COM. REP. NO.  280

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

RE:   H.B. No. 1332

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 1332 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO IRRIGATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to ensure Hawaii's agricultural crops receive a steady and dependable supply of water by appropriating funds to maintain and improve the Peekauai Ditch Irrigation System and its appurtenances.

The East Kauai Water User's Cooperative, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, and one concerned individual supported this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing the appropriation amount to an unspecified sum; and

     (2)  Changing its effective date to January 20, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

     Should the Committee on Finance deliberate this measure further, your Committee respectfully requests that it consider appropriating $10,000 for each fiscal year of fiscal biennium 2015-2017 for the purpose of maintenance and improvements to the Peekauai Ditch Irrigation System, also known as Menehune Ditch, and all appurtenances.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1332, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1332, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

CLIFT TSUJI, Chair