STAND. COM. REP. NO. 781

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: H.B. No. 425

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water, Land, & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 425 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WATER QUALITY MONITORING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to ensure that the Department of Health has adequate staff to timely monitor water quality in the County of Hawaii by appropriating $50,772 for one full-time position to conduct water quality assessments, investigate complaints, and enforce surface water regulations on the island of Hawaii.

The Mayor of the County of Hawai‘i; Department of Environmental Management of the County of Hawai‘i; O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of Democratic Party of Hawai‘i; Keaukaha Action Network; Malu ‘Aina; Hot Yoga Hilo; and several individuals offered testimony in support of this measure. The Department of Health offered comments on this measure.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriation to an unspecified amount; and

(2) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to promote further discussion.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 425, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 425, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair