STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3455

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 2033

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Water, Land, and Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 2033, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE COMMISSION ON WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to allow the Director of Health to appoint a designee to serve as an ex officio voting member on the Commission on Water Resource Management.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Health, and one individual.

     Your Committee finds that the Director of Health does not have discretionary authority to appoint a designee to serve in the Director's place as an ex officio voting member of the Commission on Water Resource Management.  Therefore, when the Director has a scheduling conflict with other commissions or travel conflicts to neighbor islands, the Department of Health cannot be represented at Commission meetings.  Additionally, there may be staff within the Department of Health with subject matter expertise particularly relevant to the duties of the Commission on Water Resource Management.  Your Committee finds that this measure will give the Director of Health the flexibility to ensure that the Department is represented and the Commission receives expert input.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making it effective upon its approval.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, and Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2033, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2033, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water, Land, and Agriculture,

________________________________

MIKE GABBARD, Chair