STAND. COM. REP. NO. 956-18

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2018

RE: H.B. No. 2612

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 Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2612, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE ENVIRONMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to protect nearshore marine areas and their ecosystems by:

(1) Requiring the University of Hawai‘i Water Resources Research Center, in cooperation and consultation with the Department of Health, to conduct a statewide study of sewage contamination in nearshore marine areas; and

(2) Appropriating an unspecified amount of funds for the study.

The Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i and two individuals testified in support of this measure. The Department of Health and University of Hawai‘i provided comments.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2612, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair