STAND. COM. REP. NO. 599-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 2264

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 Energy & Environmental Protection and Water & Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 2264 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CESSPOOLS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish a three-year New Wastewater System Demonstration and Implementation Pilot Program within the University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaiʻi Climate Change Mitigation & Adaption Commission; one member of the Kauaʻi County Council; Hawaiʻi Reef and Ocean Coalition; Public Access to SunScreens Coalition; and Hawaiʻi Association of REALTORS. Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from the University of Hawaiʻi Sea Grant College Program and Water Resources Research Center. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General and Department of Health.

Your Committees find that cesspools are a pressing issue in the State that impact the health of residents and visitors, water quality, and coral reefs. With over eighty-three thousand cesspools in the State discharging about fifty million gallons of raw sewage every day, your Committees believe that immediate action is needed to mitigate the negative impact of cesspools. This measure encourages the review and implementation of new innovative technologies in wastewater management that could be critical for diverting sewage at scale.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Specifying that maintaining the cleanliness of the State's waters is of statewide concern;

(2) Inserting an appropriation of an unspecified amount for 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.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Water & Land that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2264, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2264, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________ LINDA ICHIYAMA, Chair

____________________________ NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair