STAND. COM. REP. NO.  699

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

RE:   H.B. No. 1140

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1140, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CESSPOOLS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to protect public health, the quality of Hawaii's near shore waters, and drinking water supply by reducing the number of cesspools in the State.  Specifically, this measure provides a temporary, refundable income tax credit to individual and corporate taxpayers who either convert an existing cesspool to a septic or aerobic treatment unit system or connect the cesspool to a sewer system.

The Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii, Hawaii Farm Bureau, The Nature Conservancy, Surfrider Foundation, Hawaii Operating Engineers Industry Stabilization Fund, a Councilmember from Hawaii County Council District 8, and several individuals supported this measure.  The Department of Health, Department of Taxation, Tax Foundation of Hawaii, and Hawaii Association of Realtors 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. 1140, 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