CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 147-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: S.B. No. 3153

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sirs:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 3153, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE DAM AND APPURTENANCE IMPROVEMENT OR REMOVAL GRANT PROGRAM,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Establish the Dam and Appurtenance Improvement or Removal Grant Program Special Fund to receive moneys for the Dam and Appurtenance Improvement or Removal Grant Program; and

(2) Appropriate funds for the Dam and Appurtenance Improvement or Removal Grant Program.

Your Committee on Conference finds that many private dams across the State are in disrepair and many private dam owners do not have the resources to conduct the necessary repairs or removal of their dams. Your Committee on Conference further finds that dams provide many public benefits. Therefore, it is in the public's best interest for the Legislature to provide financial assistance to private dam owners. This measure will assist the Department of Land and Natural Resources in providing funds to qualifying dam owners.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an appropriation of $10,000,000 from the general fund to be deposited into the Dam and Appurtenance Improvement or Removal Grant Program Special Fund as seed funding for the purposes of the Dam and Appurtenance Improvement or Removal Grant Program;

(2) Inserting an appropriation of $10,000,000 from the Dam and Appurtenance Improvement or Removal Grant Program Special Fund to be expended by the Department of Land and Natural Resources for the Dam and Appurtenance Improvement or Removal Grant Program;

(3) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2024; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3153, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3153, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ LINDA ICHIYAMA Co-Chair	____________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE Chair
____________________________ MAHINA POEPOE Co-Chair	____________________________ LYNN DECOITE Co-Chair