STAND. COM. REP. NO. 609

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 555

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs and Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 555 entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to prohibit the issuance of new building permits unless it is established that the building will be furnished with equipment allowing for the collection and use of gray water, except where the permit applicant can show that compliance with the requirement is impractical.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from one individual.  Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Mayor, County of Maui; BIA Hawaii; and one individual.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Hawaii Farm Bureau and one individual.

Your Committees find that the conservation of water resources is vital to the future health of the State.  So-called "gray water" is one of the largest sources of water waste.  Gray water is gently used, relatively clean water from sinks, showers, tubs, washing machines, and other kitchen appliances.  Gray water, when properly captured, can be effectively used for various purposes.  Accordingly, your Committees find that requiring newly constructed buildings to have equipment capable of capturing gray water for future use, except where impractical, will conserve valuable water resources and position the State for future sustainability.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

     (1)  Expanding the requirements for collection of gray water to include all future uses; and

     (2)  Changing the effective date to January 1, 2020.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs and Agriculture and Environment that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 555, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 555, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

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

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair

________________________________ CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair