Report Title:

Water Quality; Funding

Description:

Authorizes the water agencies of the counties to assess a separate water quality fee to be used by the counties to ensure water quality and to fund irrigation system repair and maintenance.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	919
TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to water.

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

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that water for domestic and agricultural use is essential to the health and welfare of the people of Hawaii, but is a limited resource that must be carefully managed and conserved to ensure its sustainability.  In addition to ensuring adequate treatment of water for water quality, maintenance and repair of existing irrigation systems is necessary to practice water conservation.  However, water conservation efforts cannot be executed without adequate funding.  

     The purpose of this Act is to:

(1)  Authorize the county water agencies to assess a reasonable fee, separate from water rates currently charged, to be designated as a water quality fee and used to preserve water quality and quantity;

(2)  Authorize counties to use funds collected from the water quality fee for county efforts to protect water quality; and

(3)  Provide that a certain percentage of the funds collected from the water quality fee be used for the repair and maintenance of certain irrigation systems.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 46, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§46-    Water quality fee. (a)  The board of water supply of the city and county of Honolulu and the water board or department of each county shall have the power to assess a reasonable fee, separate from water rates charged for water usage, designated as a water quality fee, to be used by the county assessing the fee to fund county efforts to protect and preserve water quality; provided that    per cent of the assessment shall be deposited in the irrigation repair and maintenance special fund established under section 167-24.  The water quality fee may be collected by charging excess fees to those water users who consume water at a higher consumption rate than other users.

(b)  Each county shall adopt or amend its ordinances as necessary to enable its water agency to effectively exercise its authorized power under this section."

     SECTION 3.  Section 167-24, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (c) to read as follows:

     "(c)  The irrigation repair and maintenance special fund shall be funded by [legislative]:

(1) Legislative appropriations, including general obligation bond funds and federal funds[.]; and

(2) Water quality fees collected under section 46-  ."

     SECTION 4.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2009.

INTRODUCED BY:

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