Bill Text: HI HB868 | 2012 | Regular Session | Amended

---

Bill Title: Agricultural Development and Food Security Special Fund

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-12-01 - Carried over to 2012 Regular Session. [HB868 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2012-HB868-Amended.html

---

 

 

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  98

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2011

 

RE:   H.B. No. 868

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committees on Agriculture and Water, Land, & Ocean Resources, to which was referred H.B. No. 868 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to enhance public safety and address needed infrastructure improvements by:

 

     (1)  Expanding the authorized uses of the Agricultural Development and Food Security Special Fund (Special Fund) to include dams and reservoirs, and specifying that authorized uses include investigative studies to identify and assess necessary improvements to dams, reservoirs, irrigation systems, and transportation networks; and

 

     (2)  Authorizing the issuance of general obligation bonds to be deposited into the Special Fund and expended for plans, design, construction, and other related costs for dam, reservoir, or irrigation system improvements. 

 

     Alexander & Baldwin, Inc., Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Company, Kauai Coffee Company, the Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii, Maui County Farm Bureau, Kamehameha Schools, Grove Farm Company, Inc., and a concerned individual supported this bill.  The Department of Agriculture (DOA) supported the intent of this measure.

 

     Your Committees note that although DOA supported the intent of this bill, it raised concerns regarding the provision that requires private matching funds to access Special Fund monies provided for in this measure.  DOA indicated that it would not be able to provide the necessary private matching funds, which would prevent DOA from accessing the Special Fund.  Your Committees intend to continue work on this particular issue as this bill moves forward.

 

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2020, to encourage further discussion; and

 

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for style, clarity, and consistency.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Water, Land, & Ocean Resources that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 868, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 868, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

 

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

 

 

____________________________ JERRY L. CHANG, Chair		____________________________ CLIFT TSUJI, Chair