STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2709

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2510

       S.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2510 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO URBAN WATER CONSERVATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish a four-year irrigation water conservation best management practices pilot program that requires the Department of Accounting and General Services to implement irrigation water conservation best management practices to improve the efficiency of landscape irrigation installations at state facilities through low cost, practical measures.

     The measure also:

     (1)  Requires the Department of Accounting and General Services to submit a report to the Legislature; and

     (2)  Appropriates an unspecified sum for the implementation of the pilot program.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of the measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, the Department of Accounting and General Services, and one individual.

     Your Committee finds that the best management practices established by the Landscape Industry Council of Hawaii were developed in close consultation with landscape professionals across the State and are recognized nationally as landscape industry standards.  Your Committee believes that by implementing best management practices, this measure will help reduce wasted drinking water, reduce run-off, and optimize plant health by applying the correct amount of water.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

     (2)  Making technical nonsubstantive amendments for the purpose of style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2510, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2510, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair