STAND.
COM. REP. NO. 282-20
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2020
RE: H.B. No. 2646
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 Water, Land, & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 2646 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WATER,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to:
(1) Specify in the state water code that fire safety use is a beneficial use of water; and
(2) Require the Board of Land and Natural Resources (Board) to work with county governments, the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, and owners to use reservoir water for fire safety.
Your Committee finds using ocean water to extinguish fires may damage flora and fauna and require the closure of major thoroughfares. Your Committee also finds that helicopters can retrieve the fresh water in reservoirs more quickly than from the ocean. Requiring the Board to work with county governments and other agencies to use reservoir water for fire safety would protect the State's flora and fauna while also ensuring that the residents and visitors of Hawaii are safe from fires.
Your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and
(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2646, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2646, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water, Land, & Hawaiian Affairs,
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____________________________ RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair |
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