STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1514

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: S.B. No. 445

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 445, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO POLLUTION ABATEMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Increase civil penalties for the violation of various pollution provisions; and

(2) Establish and appropriate funds for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) permanent environmental health specialist position within the Clean Water Branch of the Department of Health.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health.

Your Committee finds that the increased penalties established in this measure would deter pollution violations and remove any economic benefit gained by violating the law.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 445, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair