STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3465

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1806

H.D. 2

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Health and Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred H.B. No. 1806, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CESSPOOL CONVERSION,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require cesspools in the State to be upgraded or converted to a wastewater system approved by the Director of Health before January 1, 2050.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health; Wastewater Alternatives and Innovations LLC; Hawai‘i Reef and Ocean Coalition; Rotary Club Hanalei Bay Foundation; Zero Waste Kauai; The Hawaii Association for Marine Education and Research, Inc.; The Coral Reef Alliance; and five individuals. Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawai‘i Association of Realtors and one individual.

Your Committees find that there are approximately eighty-eight thousand cesspools in the State, which discharge fifty-three million gallons of raw sewage into the State's waters every day. This raw sewage threatens public health and the health of the State's streams, coral reefs, and coastal areas. This measure requires cesspools to be upgraded or converted to a wastewater system by January 1, 2050.

Your Committees have amended this measure by making it effective upon its approval.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Agriculture and Environment that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1806, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1806, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Health and Agriculture and Environment,

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair

________________________________ JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE, Chair