STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1848

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1101

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1101, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO STORMWATER FEES,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Establish a fee cap amount for county stormwater user fees that may be charged against or collected from the Department of Transportation of $1,500,000 in the aggregate per year; and

(2) Prohibit each county from denying services to the Department of Transportation by reason of nonpayment of user fees.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation; Hawaii Harbors Users Group; and Matson Navigation Company, Inc. Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Hawai‘i Community Foundation and Building Owners and Managers Association of Hawai‘i.

Your Committees find that over the past two years, the range of annual stormwater fee amounts proposed by the City and County of Honolulu for harbors and airports has vastly varied, and it is unclear what fee schedule is likely to be approved by the Honolulu City Council. This measure and the proposed cap on stormwater user fees will ensure that the Department of Transportation can plan for a maximum fee on an annual basis should the counties impose a fee structure.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1101, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and recommend that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means,

________________________________ DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair

________________________________ KARL RHOADS, Chair