STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1512

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: S.B. No. 696

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred S.B. No. 696, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CESSPOOLS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Extend various reporting deadlines and the sunset date of the Cesspool Conversion Working Group (Working Group) established pursuant to Act 132, Session Laws of Hawaii 2018; and

(2) Appropriate funds for fiscal year 2020-2021 for:

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

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

DOH, University of Hawai‘i Water Resources Research Center, Sierra Club of Hawai‘i, Maui Chamber of Commerce, Hawaii Chapters of the Surfrider Foundation, Surfrider Foundation Kauai Chapter, and several individuals supported this measure.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the deadline for the Working Group to submit its interim report to the Legislature to no later than December 31, 2020, and the deadline to submit its final report to the Legislature to no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2022;

(2) Changing the deadline for the University of Hawaii Water Resources Research Center and DOH to submit its study of sewage contamination in nearshore marine areas to the Working Group and the Legislature to October 1, 2020;

(3) Dissolving the Working Group on January 14, 2022;

(4) Extending the lapse date for funds appropriated to the University of Hawaii to conduct a comprehensive statewide study of sewage contamination in nearshore marine areas and to DOH to conduct research or gather technical assistance relating to the Working Group's comprehensive cesspool conversion plan to June 30, 2020;

(5) Removing appropriations for fiscal year 2020-2021 for:

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

(B) DOH to conduct research on issues identified by the Working Group in completing its comprehensive cesspool conversion plan;

(6) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2100, to encourage further discussion; and

(7) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

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 S.B. No. 696, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 696, S.D. 2, 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