STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2749

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2823

       S.D. 1

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2823 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SOLID WASTE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to provide additional funding to the Department of Health's Office of Solid Waste Management, by increasing and differentiating the solid waste management surcharge for disposal at landfills, solid waste reduction facilities, and waste-to-energy facilities.

     Your Committee finds that the solid waste management surcharge was last increased in 1997.  Current annual revenue from the surcharge is approximately $500,000, but the annual expenses of the Office of Solid Waste Management exceed $600,000, despite vacancies, furloughs, salary reductions, and reductions in force.  The increase in fees will enable the Office of Solid Waste Management to fund all program positions, provide better oversight to solid waste management facilities, process permit applications in a timely manner, and respond to the numerous complaints made by the public each year.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to promote further discussion; and

(2)  Making technical nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2823, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2823, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair