STAND. COM. REP. NO. 83-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 2195

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 2195 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CESSPOOLS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish and appropriate funds for a Cesspool Compliance Pilot Grant Project to assist low- and moderate-income property owners with the costs of upgrading, converting, or connecting a cesspool.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Hawai‘i Reef and Ocean Coalition, WAI: Wastewater Alternatives & Innovations, and six individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that Hawaii has nearly eighty-eight thousand cesspools that release more than fifty million gallons of raw sewage into the State's groundwater and surface waters every day. While the State established a requirement for the upgrade, conversion, or connection of all cesspools in the State to more environmentally appropriate wastewater management systems or to a sewerage system by 2050, further mechanisms must be in place to reduce the number of cesspools in the State, including assisting low- and moderate-income families with the upgrade, conversion, or connection.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Including lessees on Hawaiian home lands with a cesspool to be eligible for the Cesspool Compliance Pilot Grant Project;

(2) Specifying that the Department of Health shall grant awards on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to funding availability;

(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2100, to encourage further discussion; and

(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2195, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2195, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,

____________________________

NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair