STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3469

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 161

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 161 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO IMPLEMENT A STATEWIDE RAINWATER DETENTION AND RETENTION POND SAFETY PROGRAM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to protect public health and safety by requesting the Department of Health to implement a statewide rainwater detention and retention pond safety program.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the ILWU Local 142; Dowling Company, Inc.; and thirty seven individuals.  The Coalition of Hawaii Engineering and Architectural Professionals submitted comments on this measure.

     Your Committee finds that rainwater retention and detention ponds need to be regulated in order to protect public health and safety.  The costs of implementing a statewide rainwater detention and retention pond safety program are minimal, particularly when a child's safety is put at risk.

     Your Committee has amended this measure to clarify that the safety program is not intended to apply to golf course properties.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 161, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 161, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair