STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1471

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: S.B. No. 93

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 93, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO REUSE ZONES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require that any nonpotable water users or developers of real property located within an unspecified number of miles of a wastewater treatment plant use R-1 water for nonpotable water usage.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Honolulu Board of Water Supply. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health, Department of Land and Natural Resources, and Department of the Attorney General.

Your Committee finds that recycled water is a drought-proof, renewable source of water that is a safe, smart way to extend the life of Hawaii's finite water supply.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting the requirement that any nonpotable water users or developers of real property located within an unspecified number of miles of a wastewater treatment plant must use R-1 water for nonpotable water usage;

(2) Deleting the definition of "R-1 water";

(3) Requiring any county agencies producing recycled water to establish water reuse zones within their service areas by January 1, 2024;

(4) Adding a definition of "water reuse zone";

(5) Modifying the purpose of an appropriation to be used to enforce the water reuse zones requirement;

(6) Deleting the appropriation to establish an unspecified number of full-time equivalent positions within the Commission on Water Resource Management;

(7) Changing its effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

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

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 S.B. No. 93, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 93, S.D. 1, 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