STAND. COM. REP. NO.  467

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   H.B. No. 838

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 838 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to amend the Water Security Advisory Group Pilot Program, established in Act 172, Session Laws of Hawaii 2016, by:

(1)  Allowing for a state audit of contractors, third parties, and independent non-profit entities that receive funds through the program; and

(2)  Providing that the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint certain members of the Water Security Advisory Group.  

The Department of Agriculture, Honolulu Board of Water Supply, Hawaii Farm Bureau, and two concerned individuals supported this measure.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources and Hawaii Fresh Water Council provided comments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Requiring rather than allowing contractors and other third parties, including independent non-profit entities, who receive funds to be subject to a state audit;

     (2)  Removing the requirement that the annual report on the program be submitted to the Governor; and

     (3)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 838, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 838, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair