STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2203

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 866

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Hawaiian Affairs and Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 866, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SEWER SYSTEMS SERVICING ON HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

     (1)  Clarify the counties' ownership of and responsibility for certain existing sewer systems and facilities servicing Hawaiian home lands; and

     (2)  Require the counties to accept dedication or license of and responsibility for certain other sewer systems and facilities servicing Hawaiian home lands.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and Ko‘olaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club.  Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from the City and County of Honolulu's Department of Environmental Services.

     Your Committees find that the counties are uniquely positioned to operate, improve, repair, maintain, and replace sewer transmission lines and other sewerage facilities.  Although the counties developed and maintained certain sewer systems on Hawaiian home lands, the counties are not taking responsibility for the upkeep of these sewer systems.  This measure ensures that the counties will operate and maintain certain sewer systems servicing Hawaiian home lands, allowing the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to focus its efforts on developing new homes for its beneficiaries.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Hawaiian Affairs and Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 866, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 866, 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 Hawaiian Affairs and Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs,

____________________________ WILL ESPERO, Chair

____________________________ MAILE S.L. SHIMABUKURO, Chair