STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2135

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: S.B. No. 833

S.D. 2

H.D. 3

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 833, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE WAHIAWA IRRIGATION SYSTEM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Authorize the Department of Agriculture, Department of Land and Natural Resources, and Agribusiness Development Corporation to acquire the Wahiawa Irrigation System, on terms negotiated and agreed upon by the Office of the Governor, and to purchase, repair, and maintain the associated spillway; and

(2) Appropriate funds for:

(A) The Department of Agriculture to acquire a fee simple interest in the spillway associated with the Wahiawa Irrigation System;

(B) The Department of Agriculture to repair and expand the spillway associated with the Wahiawa Irrigation System and to bring the spillway into compliance with all relevant dam safety requirements;

(C) The Agribusiness Development Corporation to manage and maintain its acquired portion of the Wahiawa Irrigation System and the spillway and dam acquired by the Department of Agriculture; and

(D) The Department of Land and Natural Resources to manage and maintain its acquired portion of the Wahiawa Irrigation System and the establishment of four full-time positions.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; Honolulu Board of Water Supply; Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii; North Shore Neighborhood Board No. 27; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; Sustainable Hawaii, LLC; Ulupono Initiative; Dole Food Company Hawaii; International Longshore & Warehouse Union Local 142; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and Agribusiness Development Corporation.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the number of positions to an unspecified number; and

(2) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 833, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 833, S.D. 2, H.D. 3.

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

____________________________

KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair