STAND. COM. REP. NO. 643

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1504

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 1504 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CESSPOOLS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Extend the sunset date of the Cesspool Compliance Pilot Grant Project from June 30, 2028, to an unspecified date; and

(2) Appropriate funds.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands; Hawaiʻi Association of REALTORS; Water Quality Consulting, Inc.; Hawaiʻi Reef and Ocean Coalition; and one individual.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health.

Your Committee finds that cesspool conversion is important to preserve the State's environment and that over three thousand cesspools must be converted each year to meet the goal of converting all cesspools by 2050 pursuant to section 342D-72, Hawaii Revised Statutes. Your Committee further finds that it is crucial that the State properly plans and finds ways to assist communities and homeowners as resources are limited, especially on the neighbor islands. This measure provides funding for the continued implementation of the Cesspool Compliance Pilot Grant Project to continue assisting those who need help to convert their cesspools.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting language to clarify that the sunset date of the Cesspool Compliance Pilot Grant Project is extended to June 30, 2038;

(2) Deleting language that would have appropriated funds for the continued implementation of the Cesspool Compliance Pilot Grant Project; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1504, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1504, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health and Human Services,

________________________________

JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair