STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3939

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2195

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 Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2195, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CESSPOOLS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish within the Department of Health and appropriate moneys for a pilot grant project to help qualifying low- and moderate-income property owners either upgrade or convert their cesspools.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, a member of the Hawaii County Council, Rotary Club of Hanalei Bay, Hawaii Reef and Ocean Coalition, Surfrider Foundation - Hawaii Region, Kauai Women's Caucus, WAI: Wastewater Alternatives & Innovations, and nine individuals.

Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance and Department of Health.

Your Committee recognizes that the statutory requirement to upgrade or convert cesspools, while necessary to prevent contamination of the State's groundwater, streams, and coastal ecosystems, also imposes a financial burden on low- and moderate-income families. Accordingly, your Committee believes that the State should assist these families in meeting the costs of cesspool upgrades and conversions.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Establishing the pilot grant project in session law rather than in the Hawaii Revised Statutes;

(2) Requiring the Department of Health to submit to the Legislature, by an unspecified date, a report on the pilot grant project; and

(3) Providing for repeal of the pilot grant project on an unspecified date.

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 H.B. No. 2195, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2195, H.D. 2, S.D. 1.

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

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair