STAND. COM. REP. NO. 429-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 1839

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 Water & Land and Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 1839 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE ENVIRONMENT,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to allocate funding for long-term monitoring of air quality in communities impacted by the Maui wildfires, as well as support for research efforts to better understand the environmental concerns linked to urban fires.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health; one member of the Maui County Council; Lāhainā Strong; Green Party Hawaiʻi; Maui Chamber of Commerce; Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi; and numerous individuals. Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from two individuals.

Your Committees find that the wildfires that engulfed urban areas on Maui in August 2023 contained more toxic chemicals than wildfires that simply consume wood and natural materials. Your Committees additionally find that conducting air quality testing and contaminant testing is necessary to monitor the short- and long-term risks of the Maui wildfires to the ecosystem, community, and environment.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting references to water quality testing and monitoring, as this measure focuses on air quality monitoring and research efforts;

(2) Changing the position to be funded from an Air Quality Electronics Technician I position to a permanent Environmental Health Specialist position; and

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

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

Your Committees respectfully request your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider an appropriation amount of at least $400,000 as per the request of the Department of Health.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water & Land and Energy & Environmental Protection that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1839, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1839, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________ NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair

____________________________ LINDA ICHIYAMA, Chair