STAND. COM. REP. NO. 663

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 93

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 93 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO REUSE ZONES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to promote the use of recycled water throughout the State.

More specifically, this measure:

(1) Requires each nonpotable water user and developer of land within a certain distance of a wastewater treatment plant to use R-1 water for nonpotable water usage; and

(2) Appropriates moneys to the Department of Land and Natural Resources to enforce R-1 water usage requirements and for the establishment of full-time equivalent positions within the Commission on Water Resource Management.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Health and Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Your Committee finds that water is a precious and finite natural resource requiring management through appropriate preservation and conservation efforts. Your Committee believes that by requiring the use of recycled water for nonpotable uses, this measure will help to reduce the use of potable water for nonpotable demands.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that this measure applies to nonpotable water users and to developers of real property located within a certain distance of a wastewater treatment plant;

(2) Inserting a definition for the term "R-1 water";

(3) Inserting language to clarify the purpose of this measure's appropriation to establish full-time equivalent positions within the Commission on Water Resource Management;

(4) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

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

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 S.B. No. 93, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 93, S.D. 1.

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

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair