H.C.R. 102 Summary

• Request the Department of Agriculture to implement differentiated water toll rates and charges for the Hamakua District irrigation system as an initial step toward statewide differentiated rates for different irrigation systems and user classes.

• Authorize rate structures that account for varying operational costs across different irrigation systems and different classes of agricultural users to better promote agricultural expansion and production.

• Require the Department of Agriculture to submit a report to the Legislature no later than twenty days before the 2014 regular session on the status and progress of implementing differentiated water toll rates for the Hamakua District irrigation system.

• Address high water delivery costs that create hardships for farmers, ranchers, and aquaculture operators, with the goal of increasing agricultural productivity and reducing Hawaii's reliance on imported food.