STAND. COM. REP. NO. 526

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: H.B. No. 900

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Economic Development, to which was referred H.B. No. 900, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE BROWNFIELDS CLEANUP REVOLVING LOAN FUND,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to enable the use of funds from the Brownfields Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund for environmental site assessments and for sub-grants to eligible entities for assessment and cleanup of brownfields.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Department of Health; Office of Planning; and Department of Planning and Permitting for the City and County of Honolulu.

Your Committee finds that brownfields are often underutilized due to contamination or perceived contamination that hinders redevelopment. Expanding the use of the Brownfields Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund to enable sub-grants for cleanups, environmental site assessments, and related activities will benefit local communities by having more land to be developed for affordable housing, public parks, and open areas.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Economic Development that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 900, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Economic Development,

____________________________

SEAN QUINLAN, Chair