STAND. COM. REP. NO. 583

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 696

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 S.B. No. 696 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CESSPOOLS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Extend various reporting deadlines and the sunset date of the Cesspool Conversion Working Group; and

(2) Appropriate additional funds for the conduct of the comprehensive statewide study of sewage contamination in nearshore marine areas and for research and technical assistance necessary for completion of the comprehensive cesspool conversion plan.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, County of Hawai‘i Department of Environmental Management, University of Hawai‘i Water Resources Research Center, One World One Water, Coral Reef Alliance, Maui Chamber of Commerce, O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, and one individual.

Your Committee finds that the Cesspool Conversion Working Group was established in 2018 to develop a long-range, comprehensive plan for conversion of cesspools statewide by 2050. Your Committee further finds that a statewide study of sewage contamination in nearshore marine areas was commissioned the same year. Your Committee additionally finds that although the working group convened in 2018 and has been diligently working to meet its objectives, the group needs additional time and resources to complete its work. This measure will extend the reporting deadlines and sunset date of the Cesspool Conversion Working Group and appropriate funds to conduct the comprehensive statewide study of sewage contamination in nearshore marine areas.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date of sections that do not appropriate funds to September 30, 2019, to allow those sections to take effect as intended.

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 S.B. No. 696, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 696, 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,

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MIKE GABBARD, Chair