STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3368

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 866

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 2

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 866, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to clarify and confirm the counties' ownership of and obligation to operate, improve, repair, maintain, and replace certain existing sewer systems servicing Hawaiian Home Lands.

     The measure also requires the counties to accept dedication or license of and responsibility for sewer systems servicing Hawaiian Home Lands upon demand by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, subject to certain conditions.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.  Written comments in opposition to the measure were received from one individual.

     Your Committee finds that sewer transmission lines and other sewerage facilities servicing lots located on Hawaiian Home Lands are or will be in need of improvement, repair, and maintenance.  Your Committee believes that this measure will ensure the operation, improvement, repair, and maintenance of sewer systems servicing Hawaiian Home Lands.

     Your Committee encourages the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and the counties to explore the feasibility of cost sharing as a funding mechanism, or the provision of funds by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to the counties, in order to bring sewer systems into substantial compliance with relevant laws, rules, and regulations prior to a county accepting license or dedication and ownership thereof.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing the effective date from July 1, 2020, to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

     (2)  Making technical nonsubstantive changes for the purposes of clarity, consistency, 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 H.B. No. 866, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 866, H.D. 2, S.D. 2.

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

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair