STAND. COM. REP. NO.  751-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   H.B. No. 2204

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2204, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO STORMWATER MANAGEMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to encourage the systematic protection of water resources by:

     (1)  Authorizing the counties to establish and charge user fees to create and maintain any stormwater management system or infrastructure;

     (2)  Creating a working committee in the Department of Health to prepare a work plan to support storm water management systems and infrastructure in the State; and

     (3)  Appropriating funds for the working committee to prepare the work plan.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Health, Surfrider Foundation, and three concerned individuals testified in support of this measure.  The Chamber of Commerce Hawaii testified in opposition to this measure.  The Department of Environmental Services of the City and County of Honolulu, Tax Foundation of Hawaii, and two concerned individuals provided comments on this measure.

     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. 2204, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair