STAND. COM. REP. NO. 841-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 1544

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1544, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO STATE WATER CODE PENALTIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Establish a minimum penalty and amend the maximum penalty per violation of the State Water Code, expand the types of potential violations of the State Water Code, and make each day that a violation exists or continues to exist a separate offense;

(2) Require the Commission on Water Resource Management to consider certain factors when imposing penalties; and

(3) Make the setting, charging, and collecting of administrative fines by the Commission on Water Resource Management mandatory, rather than discretionary.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaiʻi Reef and Ocean Coalition; Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi; Ulupono Initiative; and one individual. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from Mahi Pono and the Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; County of Hawaiʻi Department of Water Supply; and one individual.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1544, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair