STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1234

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 425

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred H.B. No. 425, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Department of Health to establish one full-time equivalent position to conduct water quality assessments on all streams and coastal waters on the island of Hawaii, investigate complaints, and enforce surface water regulations.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Mayor of Hawai‘i County, O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, and two individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health.

Your Committee finds that the Clean Water Branch of the Department of Health has inadequate staff capacity to meet its obligations to perform timely monitoring that helps ensure the island of Hawaii's stream and coastal water safety for public swimming, fishing, and other recreation. The Department of Health has only one water quality resident inspector for the County of Hawaii. Your Committee further finds that contaminants from waste water treatment plant outfalls, injection wells, and cesspools need to be addressed by the Clean Water Branch because of the contaminants' role in harming coral reefs on the island of Hawaii.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an appropriation amount of $50,772;

(2) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2019; and

(3) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 425, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 425, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture and Environment,

________________________________

MIKE GABBARD, Chair