STAND. COM. REP. NO. 146

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 629

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Water and Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 629 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO URBAN WATER CONSERVATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

     (1)  Establish a four-year irrigation water conservation best management practices pilot program, under which the Department of Accounting and General Services shall implement irrigation water conservation best management practices as established by the Landscape Industry Council of Hawaii;

     (2)  Require the Department of Accounting and General Services to report to the Legislature regarding the pilot program; and

     (3)  Make an appropriation to the Department of Accounting and General Services for the implementation of the pilot program.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and one individual.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Accounting and General Services.  Your Committee received comments from Irrigation Hawaii Limited.

     Your Committee finds that the pilot program under this measure will assist the State with water conservation and improve the efficiency of landscape irrigation installments at state facilities through low cost, practical measures.

     Your Committee further finds that the best management practices established by the Landscape Industry Council of Hawaii were developed in close consultation with landscape professionals across the State and are recognized nationally as landscape industry standards.  Your Committee believes that by implementing best management practices, this measure will help reduce wasted drinking water, reduce run-off, and optimize plant health by applying the correct amount of water.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water and Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 629 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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

____________________________

LAURA H. THIELEN, Chair