STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2229

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 3142

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 3142 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WATER INFRASTRUCTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize the Department of Health to transfer federal capitalization grant funds between the Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund and the Drinking Water Treatment Revolving Loan Fund, in accordance with title 40 Code of Federal Regulations section 35.3530(c).

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

Your Committee finds that the quality of the environment and the economy of the State are both of utmost importance to the welfare of the people of the State. Your Committee further finds that there is an increasing demand for the replacement of aging drinking water and wastewater system infrastructure in the State, the delay of which could pose short-term and long-term health hazards for consumers statewide. Your Committee additionally finds that the incorporation of capitalization grant transfer authority between the Drinking Water Treatment Revolving Loan Fund and the Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund programs, as currently allowed under title 40 Code of Federal Regulations section 35.3530(c), can greatly assist the two programs with additional planning and priority setting; maximizing of the two infrastructure funding programs by directing federal funds where they are most needed; and ensuring that annual federal capitalization grant moneys awarded to the two programs will be disbursed as quickly as possible.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3142, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3142, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committees on Ways and Means and Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health and Human Services,

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JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair