STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2538

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2425

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 S.B. No. 2425 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CESSPOOLS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Authorize and appropriate $150,000 from the Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund to the Department of Health to retain qualified consultants as necessary to:

(A) Identify necessary public outreach and education resources and tools; and

(B) 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 conversion; and

(2) Require that mandatory seller disclosures in residential real estate transactions include certain information on any cesspool on the property.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority, University of Hawaiʻi Sea Grant College Program, UH Water Resources Research Center, one member of the Kauai County Council, Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi, Indivisible Hawaii, Puakō for Reefs, Kuaʻāina Ulu ʻAuamo, Wastewater Alternatives and Innovations LLC, Hawaiʻi Reef and Ocean Coalition, Climate Protectors Hawaiʻi, Public Access to SunScreens Coalition, and seven individuals.

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

Your Committees find that to reduce water pollution, unless exempted by the Department of Health, all cesspools in the State are required to be updated or converted to another method of waste disposal or connected to a sewerage system by January 1, 2050. Your Committees recognize that the Cesspool Conversion Working Group established pursuant to Act 132, Session Laws of Hawaii 2018, was convened to address the costs, terrain, and other geologic and geographic factors that complicate the upgrading or conversion of cesspools in many areas of the State. This measure facilitates the timely upgrade, conversion, and connection of cesspools in the State by adopting various recommendations of the Cesspool Conversion Working Group.

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 S.B. No. 2425 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committees on Ways and Means and Commerce and Consumer Protection.

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