Bill Text: HI HB503 | 2015 | Regular Session | Amended

Hawaii House Bill 503 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Drought Mitigation; Appropriations for County Projects ($)

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 16-0)

Status: (Enrolled - Dead) 2015-05-01 - Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday, 05-01-15 at 4:45PM in Conference Room 224. [HB503 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2015-HB503-Amended.html

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	503
TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2015		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII		S.D. 1

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO DROUGHT MITIGATION.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that a viable agriculture industry requires a steady, reliable supply of water. However, drought conditions continue to adversely affect farms and ranches in the State, hampering their ability to produce quality products on a consistent basis throughout the year.

The legislature believes that to address the harmful impact of droughts, mitigation measures laid out in the Hawaii drought plan must be implemented. The goal of the Hawaii drought plan is to develop coordinated emergency response mechanisms while at the same time outlining steps toward mitigating the effects of future drought occurrences. The Hawaii drought plan provides clear policies and specifies response entities to implement immediate, short-term, and long-term response measures to mitigate the impact of droughts.

The legislature also finds that in 2004, county drought committees were formed for each of the four counties in Hawaii. Each county drought committee developed a drought mitigation strategy for its respective county, with a focus on drought mitigation projects. These county drought mitigation strategies represent the local needs and concerns of each county and are incorporated by reference into the Hawaii drought plan.

The legislature further finds that to implement the Hawaii drought plan adequately, sufficient funding to the counties is necessary to address the many challenges that our agriculture industry faces in preparing for droughts.

The purpose of this Act is to provide funding to pursue drought mitigation projects and measures in each county of the State.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2015-2016 and the same sum or so much as may be necessary for fiscal year 2016-2017 for drought mitigation projects and measures in each county of the State.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of land and natural resources for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2051.

Report Title:

Drought Mitigation; Appropriations for County Projects

Description:

Appropriates funds for county drought mitigation projects and measures. Effective 7/1/2051. (SD1)

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