Bill Text: HI HB744 | 2012 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Dam Safety; Dam Safety Task Force; Incentives

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2011-12-01 - Carried over to 2012 Regular Session. [HB744 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2012-HB744-Amended.html

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STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1188

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 744

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 744, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DAM SAFETY,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Provide that certain dams and related reservoirs that are designated as important agricultural lands shall be included in the total acreage calculation for important agricultural lands;

 

     (2)  Make those dams and related reservoirs eligible for the incentives now available to important agricultural lands under section 205-46, Hawaii Revised Statutes; and

 

     (3)  Establish a dam safety task force to recommend actions to be taken by the Engineering Division of the Department of Land and Natural Resources in its administration of the Hawaii Dam Safety Program.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from Dave Arakawa, Executive Director, Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii; the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation; and David Tarnas, Oaea Agricultural Park.  Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from William J. Aila, Jr., Chairperson, Department of Land and Natural Resources.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from Jesse K. Souki, Interim Director, Office of Planning, Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; and Paul Oshiro, Manager, Government Relations, Alexander & Baldwin, Inc.

 

     Your Committee finds that dams and reservoirs are critical to the conduct of agricultural operations and businesses.  Making important agricultural land incentives available to dams and reservoirs will help preserve these critical economic assets.  Your Committee also finds that the task force established by this measure would create a structure in which public and private stakeholders can collaborate, evaluate impacts, and make recommendations to policy makers regarding the Hawaii Dam Safety Program.

 

     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 H.B. No. 744, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

 

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

 

		____________________________ DAVID Y. IGE, Chair