STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3150

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1759

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Health and Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 1759, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CESSPOOLS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent 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, 2035, for priority level 1 cesspools and before January 1, 2040, for priority level 2 cesspools, with certain exceptions.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawaiʻi Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, University of Hawaiʻi Sea Grant College Program, University of Hawaiʻi Water Resources Research Center, one member of the Kauaʻi County Council, County of Hawaiʻi Department of Environmental Management, Wastewater Alternatives and Innovations LLC, Hawaiʻi Reef and Ocean Coalition, and eight individuals.

Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Hawaiʻi Association of REALTORS.

Your Committees find that prioritizing and accelerating conversion dates for cesspool systems with the most severe impacts provides more timely protection of the State's groundwater and surface water resources. This measure will reduce the amount of contaminants entering Hawaii's groundwater and nearshore waters for the benefit of current and future residents and visitors of the State.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Health and Human Services that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1759, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1759, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Health and Human Services,

________________________________ JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair