STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1336

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 1509

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Water and Land, Agriculture and Environment, and Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1509 entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to require the State to consider storm water management in the development of the Hawaii Water Resource Protection Plan.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii and one individual.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

     Your Committees find that including storm water management in the Hawaii Water Resource Protection Plan provides an opportunity to meet Hawaii's water needs and prepare for the negative impacts of extreme weather conditions.  Your Committees note that storm water capture, reuse, and reclamation contribute to augmenting and conserving Hawaii's fresh water supplies.  Your Committees further note that storm water remediation plans will help to mitigate the damaging effects on Hawaii's agricultural operations from storms, flooding, and drought conditions.  Your Committees conclude that including storm water management in the Hawaii Water Resource Protection Plan will strengthen and improve the existing plan.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water and Land, Agriculture and Environment, 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. 1509, and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Water and Land, Agriculture and Environment, and Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs,

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair	________________________________ KARL RHOADS, Chair
	________________________________ CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair