STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1036-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 1892

H.D. 2

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. 1892, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CESSPOOLS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Accelerate the dates for required upgrades, conversions, or connections to 2035 for priority level 1 cesspools and to 2040 for priority level 2 cesspools, with certain exceptions;

(2) Authorize and appropriate funds to the Department of Health to retain qualified consultants as necessary to identify necessary public outreach and education resources and tools and develop a comprehensive public outreach strategy and website to serve as a statewide clearinghouse for information and resources for homeowners and wastewater industry professionals related to cesspool upgrade, conversion, and connection; and

(3) Appropriate funds and establish positions for the implementation of the Cesspool Compliance Pilot Grant Project.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands; Department of Land and Natural Resources; Hawaiʻi Green Infrastructure Authority; University of Hawaiʻi Sea Grant College Program; University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Water Resources Research Center; one member of the Kauaʻi County Council; Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi; Surfrider Foundation, Hawaiʻi Region; Hawaiʻi Reef and Ocean Coalition; Indivisible Hawaii; Ocean Preservation Society; Keiko Conservation; WAI: Wastewater Alternatives & Innovations; Public Access to SunScreens Coalition; and seven individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health; Hawaiʻi Association of REALTORS; and Puakō for Reefs.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the numbers of full-time equivalent positions to unspecified numbers; and

(2) Changing the deadlines for cesspool upgrades, conversions, or connections to unspecified dates.

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. 1892, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1892, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair