STAND. COM. REP. NO. 407-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 1907

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 Water & Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 1907 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO STREAM MAINTENANCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish and implement a two-year Manoa Stream Maintenance Reimbursement Pilot Program to reimburse homeowners adjacent to Manoa stream for clearing debris in Manoa stream.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from eight individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Your Committee finds that the land ownership of Manoa Stream varies between the State, City and County of Honolulu, and private parties. Your Committee further finds that stream maintenance minimizes the risk of flooding. This measure attempts to incentivize and support homeowners to clear debris and prevent the flooding of Manoa Stream.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Requiring a property homeowner to match the reimbursement allowed, thereby capping reimbursements at half of the costs incurred and up to $2,000 annually;

(2) Inserting an appropriation of an unspecified amount for seven full-time equivalent (7.0 FTE) positions for the Department of Land and Natural Resources to implement the Pilot Program;

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

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

Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider an appropriation amount of $700,000 for fiscal year 2024-2025 for the Department of Land and Natural Resources to administer the Pilot Program.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1907, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1907, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water & Land,

____________________________

LINDA ICHIYAMA, Chair