STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3130

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 2946

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2946 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO IRRIGATION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate moneys to the Department of Agriculture for maintaining and improving the Peekauai Ditch irrigation system on the island of Kauai.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; Office of Economic Development for the County of Kauai; Ulupono Initiative; Local Food Coalition; Larry Jefts Farms, LLC; Hawaii Farm Bureau; Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii; Hawaii Crop Improvement Association; and Hawaii Cattlemen's Council.  

 

     Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

 

     Your Committee finds that investing in agricultural water systems is key to growing the State's diversified agriculture industry.  Your Committee further finds that maintaining and improving the Peekauai Ditch irrigation system will help provide agriculturalists on Kauai's west side with adequate amounts of water to operate their agribusinesses.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

 

     (2)  Making technical nonsubstantive changes for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2946, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2946, S.D. 1.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

 

 

 

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair