STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3516

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 2040

       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 Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2040 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WATER SECURITY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to increase the State's water security.

     Specifically, this measure:

     (1)  Establishes a two-year pilot program on developing public-private partnerships that increase water security;

     (2)  Establishes a water security advisory group to advise the Department of Land and Natural Resources on water security proposals; and

     (3)  Authorizes the Department of Land and Natural Resources, upon the advice of the advisory group, to provide matching state funds for projects and programs that:

          (A)  Increase the recharge of groundwater resources;

          (B)  Encourage the reuse of water and reduce the use of potable water for landscaping irrigation; and

          (C)  Improve the efficiency of potable and agricultural water use.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Board of Water Supply of the City and County of Honolulu; the Hawaii Community Foundation; the Hawaii Farm Bureau; the Hawaii Fresh Water Council; Hawaii Green Growth; Surfrider Foundation, Hawaii Chapters; and one individual.

     Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

     Your Committee finds that the two-year pilot program for a Water Security Advisory Group in the Department of Land and Natural Resources established by this measure will enable public-private partnerships by providing matching funds for projects that increase water security.  This pilot program will provide incentives to increase the recharge of groundwater resources, encourage the reuse of water and reduce the use of potable water for landscaping irrigation, and improve the efficiency of potable and agricultural water use.

     The Department of Land and Natural Resources is requested to provide the necessary appropriation amount for this measure as it continues to move through the legislative process.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure and correcting a grammatical error.

     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. 2040, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2040, S.D. 1.

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

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair