STAND. COM. REP. NO. 228

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 1180

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committees on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health and Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 1180 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)  Amend the cesspool upgrade, conversion, or connection income tax credit to:  make the tax credit assignable; make the tax credit refundable; disallow the tax credit for taxpayers whose federal adjusted gross income exceeds certain amounts; expand the criteria for cesspools that qualify for the tax credit; and extend the sunset date to December 31, 2022;

 

     (2)  Require all cesspools in the State be upgraded or converted to septic or aerobic treatment unit systems or connected to sewer systems by January 1, 2050;

 

     (3)  Establish a grant program to assist with cesspool upgrade or conversion costs;

 

     (4)  Appropriate funds for the grant program; and

 

     (5)  Require the Department of Health to develop guidelines for the mandatory disclosure of cesspools on real property.

 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Surfrider Foundation, and five individuals.  Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii Association of REALTORS.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Taxation and Tax Foundation of Hawaii.

 

     Your Committees find that cesspools are a major source of pollution to Hawaii's waters.  According to testimony from the Department of Health, there are approximately 90,000 cesspools in the State, which discharge approximately 55,000,000 gallons of untreated sewage into the groundwater every day.  Groundwater flows into drinking water sources, streams, and the ocean, harming public health and the environment, including beaches and coral reefs.  Phasing out cesspools will eliminate threats to drinking water and recreational waters, although your Committees understand that there are significant costs associated with cesspool conversion.  Among other things, this measure expands the cesspool upgrade, conversion, or connection income tax credit, including making the tax credit assignable, and establishes a grant program to help facilitate the phasing out of cesspools.

 

     Your Committees have heard the concerns raised by the Department of Taxation in testimony, regarding the assignment of the cesspool upgrade, conversion, or connection income tax credit.  According to the Department of Taxation, as there is no feasible way to monitor these assignments, there are concerns that permitting assignments of this income tax credit would increase the burden on the Department and greatly increase the likelihood of fraudulent and improper claims.  Your Committees understand these concerns and conclude amendments to this measure are necessary.

 

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Deleting language that would have made the cesspool upgrade, conversion, or connection income tax credit assignable;

 

     (2)  Clarifying that the amendments to the cesspool upgrade, conversion, or connection income tax credit shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017; and

 

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

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health and Agriculture and Environment that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1180, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1180, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health and Agriculture and Environment,

 

________________________________

MIKE GABBARD, Chair

 

________________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair