STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3057

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2856

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2856 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE BROWNFIELDS CLEANUP REVOLVING LOAN FUND,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to encourage the clean-up of brownfield lands in the State.

Specifically, this measure expands the authorized uses of moneys in the brownfields cleanup revolving loan fund to include cleanup grants and brownfields site assessments.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Department of Health; Office of Planning; and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that, according to testimony from the Office of Planning, several potential projects seeking site assessment or cleanup grant funds for the restoration and reuse of underutilized, contaminated properties have been identified. Your Committee further finds that the expansion of loan fund authority proposed by this measure would facilitate the cleanup of these sites and enable their future use for affordable housing, community open space, and park enhancements.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure.

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. 2856, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2856, S.D. 1.

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

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair