STAND. COM. REP. NO. 551-20

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2020

RE: H.B. No. 2151

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 2151 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CESSPOOL CONVERSION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to assist low- and moderate-income property owners with converting their failing cesspools to more environmentally appropriate systems by creating a Cesspool Compliance Pilot Grant Project (Project) to assist with conversion costs.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from one member of the Hawaii County Council, two members of the Kauai County Council, Human Environmental Impacts Committee of the Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Maui Chamber of Commerce, Wastewater Alternatives and Innovations, Ulupono Initiative, Friends of Hanauma Bay, and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Taxation and Department of Health.

Your Committee finds that Act 125, Session Laws of Hawaii 2017, required homeowners to replace all cesspools by 2050 and directed the Department of Health to develop a system to prioritize replacement of the cesspools. Your Committee recognizes that the requirement to upgrade or convert a cesspool imposes a financial burden on low- and moderate-income families.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriation to the Department of Health for the Project to an unspecified amount;

(2) Allowing the Department of Health to use a portion of the sum appropriated for an administrator position or to contract for services to establish and administer the Project; and

(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2151, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2151, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,

____________________________

NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair