STAND. COM. REP. NO. 88

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 428

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 428 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CESSPOOLS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require each county to develop a comprehensive integrated wastewater management plan and financial strategy.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Hawai‘i Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, Hawai‘i REALTORS, Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, and two individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that cesspools on the shoreline and in coastal areas will be an increasing source of pollution as ground water rises and coastal erosion accelerates. There are approximately eighty-three thousand cesspools divided into three priority levels across Hawaii and only twenty-seven years left to meet the State's mandate to convert all cesspools into a Department of Health-approved wastewater system by 2050. This measure requires that each county develop a comprehensive integrated wastewater management plan and financial strategy and propose their strategies to the Legislature in order to accelerate progress towards reaching the State's goal.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 428 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture and Environment,

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MIKE GABBARD, Chair