STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2831

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 3094

       S.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 3094, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO COUNTIES,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to allow each county to impose and enforce liens upon premises served for unpaid water or sewer charges after reasonable notice and after an opportunity for a hearing pursuant to chapter 91, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

 

In addition, this measure repeals the authority of the counties to take over from the State existing waterworks systems and sewer systems and to enlarge, develop, and improve those systems.

 

     Written comments in opposition were received from the Hawaii Association of Realtors.

 

     Your Committee finds that unnecessary costs and delays have prevented the counties from collecting on past due accounts for unpaid water or sewer charges.  Your Committee further finds that granting each county the authority to impose and enforce liens, after giving proper notice, will provide additional revenues that the counties may direct towards needed repairs and improvements.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

(1)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

 

(2)  Making technical nonsubstantive changes for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3094, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3094, S.D. 2.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

 

 

 

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair