STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1041

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 696

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 696, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CESSPOOLS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to address the deleterious impact of cesspools in the State.

Specifically, this measure:

(1) Extends certain deadlines applicable to the cesspool conversion working group; and

(2) Appropriates moneys for fiscal year 2020-2021 for:

(A) A comprehensive statewide study of sewage contamination in nearshore marine areas; and

(B) The Department of Health to conduct research on issues identified by the cesspool conversion working group in completing its comprehensive cesspool conversion plan.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Health, University of Hawaii, Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, and one individual.

Your Committee finds that although the Cesspool Conversion Working Group was established in 2018 and has been making attempts to reach its objectives, the group needs additional time and resources to reach its goals.

Your Committee also finds that for fiscal year 2020-2021, appropriations of $500,000 for a statewide study of sewage contamination in nearshore marine areas and $1,000,000 for completing the comprehensive cesspool conversion plan would be necessary for the purposes of this measure.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing:

(1) Both of its appropriations to unspecified amounts and changing their effective dates to July 1, 2051; and

(2) The effective date of the remaining provisions of the measure to July 1, 2050,

to facilitate further discussion on the measure.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 696, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 696, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair