STAND. COM. REP. NO. 451-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 1759

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Water & Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 1759 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CESSPOOLS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require cesspools attached to or used by housing or lodging that provides transient accommodations to be upgraded, converted, or connected before January 1, 2030.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaiʻi Climate Change Mitigation and Adaption Commission; University of Hawaiʻi Sea Grant College Program and Water Resources Research Center; one member of the Kauaʻi County Council; Hawaiʻi Reef and Ocean Coalition; and three individuals. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Health.

Your Committees find that the University of Hawaii 2022 Hawaii Cesspool Prioritization Tool places each geographic area into three prioritization categories. Priority level 1 contains the greatest contamination hazard, and priority level 2 contains significant contamination hazard. Your Committees further find that the upgrade, conversion, or connection of cesspools should be accomplished according to the priority levels established.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Requiring cesspools categorized as priority level 1 according to the University of Hawaii 2022 Hawaii Cesspool Prioritization Tool that are attached to or used by housing or lodging that provides transient accommodations to be upgraded, converted, or connected before January 1, 2035;

(2) Requiring cesspools categorized as priority level 2 according to the University of Hawaii 2022 Hawaii Cesspool Prioritization Tool that are attached to or used by housing or lodging that provides transient accommodations to be upgraded, converted, or connected before January 1, 2040;

(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Water & Land that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1759, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1759, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Water & Land,

____________________________ LINDA ICHIYAMA, Chair

____________________________ NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair