STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3391

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2776

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2776, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE ENVIRONMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require the Department of Health to expand its brown water advisory-related activities and the Auditor to review the management practices of the Department's Environmental Management Division.

More specifically, this measure:

(1) Requires the Department of Health to:

(A) Include in its Hawaii beach monitoring program water quality testing during brown water advisories;

(B) Issue health advisories during brown water advisories informing the public of the health risks associated with water runoff; and

(C) Establish an Environmental Management Division Oversight Advisory Board to provide to the Environmental Management Division oversight and guidance;

(2) Requires the Auditor to conduct a performance and management audit of the Environmental Management Division of the Department of Health, with a focus on the Division's Clean Water and Wastewater Branches, and submit a report of its findings and recommendations; and

(3) Appropriates moneys to the Auditor to conduct the required audit.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from Surfrider Foundation, Surfrider Foundation Kauai Chapter, Surfrider Foundation Maui Chapter, Surfrider Foundation Oahu Chapter, and numerous individuals.

Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from the Department of Health.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Office of the Auditor.

Your Committee finds that performing water quality testing and providing information to the public about the health risks of water runoff during brown water advisories will help to protect public health.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date 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. 2776, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2776, 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