THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2776
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to the environment.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. (a) The department of health shall:

(1) Fill the vacant environmental management division chief staff position by October 1, 2020;

(2) Require that that clean water branch of the environmental management division include as part of its Hawaii beach monitoring program water quality testing during brown water advisories, including but not limited to testing water samples from affected tier 1 beaches during these advisories; provided that no water sample shall be collected by clean water branch personnel until any hazardous conditions at the affected beach has subsided;

(3) Issue health advisories during brown water advisories that explain the health risks associated with water runoff, including but not limited to informational signs posted during these advisories at affected tier 1 beaches; and

(4) Establish an environmental management division oversight advisory board to provide oversight and guidance to the environmental management division.

(b) The department of health shall adopt or amend its administrative rules in accordance with chapter 91, Hawaii Revised Statutes, as necessary to implement this section.

(c) As used in this Act, "tier 1 beaches" means those beaches designated as tier 1 by the department of health pursuant to the federal Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health Act of 2000.

SECTION 2. (a) The auditor shall conduct a performance and management audit of the environmental management division of the department of health; provided that the audit shall focus on but not be limited to the environmental management division's clean water branch and wastewater branch.

(b) The auditor shall submit a report to the legislature of findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2021.

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2020-2021 for a performance and management audit of the environmental management division of the department of health.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the auditor for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2020.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

DOH; Auditor; Environmental Management Division; Clean Water Branch; Wastewater Branch; Hawaii Beach Monitoring Program; Brown Water Advisories; Beaches; Audit; Appropriation

Description:

Directs the Department of Health to fill the vacant division chief staff position within the Environmental Management Division by 10/1/2020, require the Clean Water Branch to perform water quality testing during brown water advisories, inform the public of health risks associated with water runoff during brown water advisories, and establish an Environmental Management Division Oversight Advisory Board. Requires and appropriates funds to the Auditor to conduct a performance and management audit of the Environmental Management Division.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.