STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1020-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 2690

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2690, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WATER,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Establish a Policy Coordinator and other positions within the Office of the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources for coordination of Red Hill WAI initiatives; and

(2) Appropriate funds for the positions and for ecosystem monitoring of the area surrounding the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; University of Hawaiʻi System; Honolulu Board of Water Supply; and Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance; Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi; and one individual.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the number of positions established to an unspecified number.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2690, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2690, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair