STAND. COM. REP. NO. 851

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 505

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 1

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Transportation and International Affairs and Public Safety, Government Operations, and Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 505, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FLOOD MITIGATION,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to protect life and property by appropriating funds for flood mitigation efforts:

     (1)  On Farrington Highway between Maili and Nanakuli on the island of Oahu; and

     (2)  In the Lualualei Valley area on the island of Oahu.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation, Department of Defense, and six individuals.

     Your Committees find that flooding is a major problem for various parts of the State.  Flooding not only causes physical damage to structures, but also creates dangerous travel conditions that lead to road closures and potential loss of life.  There are two areas that have been particularly vulnerable to flooding.  These areas include the segment of Farrington Highway between Maili and Nanakuli and the area of Lualualei Valley.  Flooding due to heavy rains has been a recurring problem in these areas, causing unsafe road conditions and road closures as recently as January 2011.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

     (1)  Appropriating funds for additional, frequently flooded areas on the islands of Hawaii, Kauai, Oahu, and Maui, as these areas also deserve relief from flood events; and

     (2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2011.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Transportation and International Affairs and Public Safety, Government Operations, and Military Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 505, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 505, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Transportation and International Affairs and Public Safety, Government Operations, and Military Affairs,

____________________________ WILL ESPERO, Chair

____________________________ J. KALANI ENGLISH, Chair