HB1551

SECTION 1. Section 174C-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (c) to read as follows:

"(c) The state water code shall be liberally interpreted to obtain maximum beneficial use of the waters of the State for purposes such as domestic uses[,]; aquaculture uses[,]; irrigation and other agricultural uses[,]; power development[~~, and~~]; commercial and industrial uses[.]; and to benefit the public's health, safety, and welfare by maintaining available fresh water for fire safety purposes. However, adequate provision shall be made for the protection of traditional and customary Hawaiian rights, the protection and procreation of fish and wildlife, the maintenance of proper ecological balance and scenic beauty, and the preservation and enhancement of waters of the State for municipal uses, public recreation, public water supply, agriculture, and navigation. [~~Such~~] These objectives are declared to be in the public interest."

SECTION 2. Section 174C-5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§174C-5 General powers and duties. The general administration of the state water code shall rest with the commission on water resource management. In addition to its other powers and duties, the commission:

(1) Shall carry out topographic surveys, research, and investigations into all aspects of water use and water quality;

(2) Shall designate water management areas for regulation under this chapter where the commission, after the research and investigations mentioned in paragraph (1), shall consult with the appropriate county council and county water agency, and after public hearing and published notice, finds that the water resources of the areas are being threatened by existing or proposed withdrawals of water;

(3) Shall establish an instream use protection program designed to protect, enhance, and reestablish, where practicable, beneficial instream uses of water in the State;

(4) May contract and cooperate with the various agencies of the federal government and with state and local administrative and governmental agencies or private persons;

(5) May enter, after obtaining the consent of the property owner, at all reasonable times upon any property other than dwelling places for the purposes of conducting investigations and studies or enforcing any of the provisions of this code, being liable, however, for actual damage done. If consent cannot be obtained, reasonable notice shall be given prior to entry;

(6) Shall cooperate with federal agencies, other state agencies, county or other local governmental organizations, and all other public and private agencies created for the purpose of utilizing and conserving the waters of the State, and assist these organizations and agencies in coordinating the use of their facilities and participate in the exchange of ideas, knowledge, and data with these organizations and agencies. For this purpose the commission shall maintain an advisory staff of experts;

(7) Shall prepare, publish, and issue printed pamphlets and bulletins as the commission deems necessary for the dissemination of information to the public concerning its activities;

(8) May appoint and remove agents, including hearings officers and consultants, necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter, who may be engaged by the commission without regard to the requirements of chapter 76 and section 78-1;

(9) May hire employees in accordance with chapter 76;

(10) May acquire, lease, and dispose of real and personal property as may be necessary in the performance of its functions, including the acquisition of real property for the purpose of conserving and protecting water and water related resources as provided in section 174C-14;

(11) Shall identify, by continuing study, those areas of the State where salt water intrusion is a threat to fresh water resources and report its findings to the appropriate county mayor and council and the public;

(12) Shall provide coordination, cooperation, or approval necessary to the effectuation of any plan or project of the federal government in connection with or concerning the waters of the State. The commission shall approve or disapprove any federal plans or projects on behalf of the State. No other agency or department of the State shall assume the duties delegated to the commission under this paragraph; except that the department of health shall continue to exercise the powers vested in it with respect to water quality, and except that the department of business, economic development, and tourism shall continue to carry out its duties and responsibilities under chapter 205A;

(13) Shall plan and coordinate programs for the development, conservation, protection, control, and regulation of water resources, based upon the best available information, and in cooperation with federal agencies, other state agencies, county or other local governmental organizations, and other public and private agencies created for the utilization and conservation of water;

(14) Shall catalog and maintain an inventory of all water uses and water resources; [~~and~~]

(15) Shall determine appurtenant water rights, including but not limited to the quantification of the amount of water and the specification of the water course or the means of access and delivery entitled to by that right, which determination shall be valid for purposes of this chapter[.]; and

(16) May declare an emergency if the commission determines, in consultation with the appropriate county and the Hawaii emergency management agency, that there is an absence of sufficient quantity of water in any area, whether within or outside of a water management area, that immediately threatens public health, safety, and welfare during a wildfire. The commission may issue orders reciting the existence of the emergency and requiring actions as the commission deems necessary to address the emergency to be taken, including but not limited to apportioning, rotating, limiting, or prohibiting the use of the water resources in the area. An emergency order shall expire no later than one year after the order is issued by the commission, unless extended by a separate or supplementary order."

SECTION 3. Section 174C-9, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"[[]§174C-9[]] Proceedings before the commission concerning water resources. (a) All proceedings before the commission concerning the enforcement or application of any provision of this chapter or any rule adopted pursuant thereto, or the issuance, modification, or revocation of any permit or license under this code by the commission, shall be conducted in accordance with chapter 91. Hearings regarding particular water resources shall be conducted on the island where those water resources are located.

(b) Any party to whom any emergency order is directed may challenge that order but shall immediately comply with the order pending disposition of the party's challenge. The commission shall give precedence to a hearing on the challenge over all other pending matters."

SECTION 4. Section 174C-62, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"[[]§174C-62[]] Declaration of water shortage[.] and emergency. (a) The commission shall formulate a plan for implementation during periods of water shortage. As a part of the plan, the commission shall adopt a reasonable system of permit classification according to source of water supply, method of extraction or diversion, use of water, or a combination thereof.

(b) The commission, by rule, may declare that a water shortage exists within all or part of an area when insufficient water is available to meet the requirements of the permit system or when conditions are such as to require a temporary reduction in total water use within the area to protect water resources from serious harm. The commission shall publish a set of criteria for determining when a water shortage exists[.], including but not limited to the imminent threat of an emergency condition caused by a wildfire.

(c) In accordance with the plan adopted under subsection (a), the commission may impose [~~such~~] restrictions on one or more classes of permits as may be necessary to protect the water resources of the area from serious harm and to restore them to their previous condition.

(d) A declaration of water shortage and any measures adopted pursuant [~~thereto~~] to the declaration may be rescinded by rule by the commission.

(e) When a water shortage is declared, the commission shall cause a notice [~~thereof~~] of the declaration to be published in a prominent place in a newspaper of general circulation throughout the area. The notice shall be published each day for the first week of the shortage and once a week thereafter until the declaration is rescinded. Publication of [~~such~~] the notice shall serve as notice to all water users in the area of the condition of water shortage.

(f) The commission shall [~~cause~~] notify by regular mail each permittee in the area [~~to be notified by regular mail~~] of any change in the conditions of the permittee's permit, any suspension [~~thereof,~~] of the permit, or of any other restriction on the use of water for the duration of the water shortage.

[(g) If an emergency condition arises due to a water shortage within any area, whether within or outside of a water management area, and if the commission finds that the restrictions imposed under subsection (c) are not sufficient to protect the public health, safety, or welfare, or the health of animals, fish, or aquatic life, or a public water supply, or recreational, municipal, agricultural, or other reasonable uses, the commission may issue orders reciting the existence of such an emergency and requiring that such actions as the commission deems necessary to meet the emergency be taken, including but not limited to apportioning, rotating, limiting, or prohibiting the use of the water resources of the area. Any party to whom an emergency order is directed may challenge such an order but shall immediately comply with the order, pending disposition of the party's challenge. The commission shall give precedence to a hearing on such challenge over all other pending matters.]

(g) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, a public water supplier may declare a water shortage emergency condition without holding a public hearing in the event of a wildfire."

SECTION 5. Section 185-1.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"[[]§185-1.5[]] Responsible agency. (a) The department shall take measures for the prevention, control, and extinguishment of wildland fires within forest reserves, public hunting areas, wildlife and plant sanctuaries, and natural area reserves and

(b) The department shall cooperate with established fire control agencies of the counties and the federal government in developing plans and programs and mutual aid agreements for assistance for the prevention, control, and extinguishment of fires on forest, grass, brush, and watershed lands not within the department's fire protection responsibilities described [~~above.~~] in this section.

(c) The department, in consultation with the Hawaii emergency management agency, shall cooperate with the counties and reservoir owners to develop protocols and agreements for the use of reservoir waters for fire safety purposes. The protocols and agreements shall address the emergency use of reservoir waters for prevention, control, and extinguishment of fires while taking into account the various competing uses of reservoir waters."

SECTION 6. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 7. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1551
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024
STATE OF HAWAII