Bill Text: HI SB1358 | 2013 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Molokai Irrigation System; GO Bonds ($)

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 18-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-02-05 - Report adopted; Passed Second Reading and referred to WAM. [SB1358 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2013-SB1358-Amended.html

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STAND. COM. REP. NO. 75

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 1358

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committees on Agriculture and Water and Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 1358 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO IRRIGATION,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize general obligation bonds to make improvements to the Molokai Irrigation System.

 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Molokai Chamber of Commerce, Molokai Ranch, Monsanto Molokai, Molokai Farm Bureau, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, and four individuals.  Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

 

     Your Committees find that the Molokai Irrigation System is the only agricultural water source on Molokai and is critical to Molokai's agriculture community and agricultural commerce.  The Molokai Irrigation System is currently underutilized and needs repairs to operate at its full capacity to increase the supply of irrigation water.  In the past three years, drought conditions have exacerbated the low supply of irrigation water on Molokai and have led to significant water use restrictions that have had a direct economic effect on the Molokai community.  In the past three years, ninety jobs have been lost due to the drought's economic impact.  Improving the Molokai Irrigation System and increasing the supply of irrigation water would significantly improve the agricultural economy and create an estimated one hundred thirty new jobs on Molokai alone.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Water and Land that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1358 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Agriculture and Water and Land,

 

____________________________ MALAMA SOLOMON, Chair		____________________________ CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair