HI HB2029

Establishes the Hawaii Water Infrastructure Loan Program under the Department of Agriculture to provide loans for water infrastructure equipment including dams, reservoirs, wells, water distribution systems, and related improvements.

Authorizes the department to make loans to private entities that lease or provide water infrastructure equipment to utility customers, and to provide direct loans to utility customers on department-approved terms.

Creates the Hawaii Water Infrastructure Special Fund to be funded by water infrastructure charges from customers, loan repayments, interest earnings, and other legally available funds.

Delegates authority to the chairperson of the board of agriculture to approve loans up to $25,000 of state funds without full department review.

Appropriates $800,000 from general revenues for fiscal year 2016-2017 to be deposited into the water infrastructure special fund for program purposes, effective July 1, 2016.