STAND. COM. REP. NO. 199-18

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2018

RE: H.B. No. 2540

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 2540 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CESSPOOLS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to reduce nonpoint contamination source pollution created by cesspools by establishing the Hawaii Cesspool Remediation and Conversion Loan Program (Cesspool Remediation Program) to provide low interest loans for the upgrade or conversion of cesspools to aerobic treatment unit systems approved by the Department of Health.

The Mayor of the County of Hawaii, Councilmember for District 4 of the Hawaii County Council, Department of Environmental Services of the City and County of Honolulu, Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Kokua Hawaii Foundation, and three concerned individuals testified in support of this measure. The Department of Health provided comments.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Extending eligibility for low interest loans under the Cesspool Remediation Program to owners who upgrade or convert their cesspool to a septic system, for connection to an existing sewer system, or other wastewater treatment system approved by the Department of Health; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2540, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2540, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Health & Human Services.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,

____________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair