STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2686

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2579

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Government Operations, to which was referred S.B. No. 2579 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO BOTTLE FILLING STATIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require that all newly constructed state buildings where a water fountain is required also have a water bottle filling station.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from one member of the Honolulu City Council.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Accounting and General Services.

Your Committee finds that reducing waste is necessary to protect the State's delicate island ecosystem. Your Committee also finds that having a water bottle filling station at new state buildings would not only contribute to the State's environmental protection goals, but also create greater accessibility to potable water for the public.

Your Committee further finds that the Department of Accounting and General Services can have water bottle filling stations at new state buildings without a legislative mandate, as was noted in the testimony in opposition, making this measure unnecessary. Although your Committee agrees with this observation, your Committee believes that this important policy merits further consideration.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that the requirement to have a water bottle filling station applies to new state building constructions that commence on or after July 1, 2025;

(2) Inserting language that exempts certain state buildings from having a water bottle filling station when having one presents a health, safety, or security risk to the building's users; and

(3) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2112, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Government Operations that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2579, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2579, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Government Operations,

________________________________

ANGUS L.K. MCKELVEY, Chair