STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2587

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 3220

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 3220 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO POLLUTION ABATEMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Increase civil penalties for violation of certain pollution provisions; and

(2) Appropriate funds for one full-time state biologist or ecologist.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that pollution, particularly in the State's waterways, poses a significant threat to human health and to the health of Hawaii's ecosystems. Increasing penalties for violations of certain pollution provisions will deter potential violators and protect the State and its residents. This measure supports efforts to deter potential violators by increasing penalties for violation of certain pollution provisions.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting the following civil fine dollar amounts:

(A) $56,460 in subsection 342D-30(a), Hawaii Revised Statutes;

(B) $25,000 in subsection 342D-30(b), Hawaii Revised Statutes;

(C) $56,400 in subsection 342E-4(a), Hawaii Revised Statutes;

(D) $25,000 in subsection 342E-4(b), Hawaii Revised Statutes;

(E) $56,400 in subsection 342L-10(a), Hawaii Revised Statutes; and

(F) $10,000 in subsection 342L-10(b), Hawaii Revised Statutes;

(2) Replacing the appropriation for a state biologist or ecologist with an appropriation for an environmental health specialist in the Enforcement Section of the Clean Water Branch;

(3) Inserting an effective date of January 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

(4) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3220, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3220, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture and Environment,

________________________________

MIKE GABBARD, Chair