STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1589

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 636

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 636, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WATER CONSERVATION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to conserve fresh water in the State.

 

More specifically, the measure:

 

     (1)  Establishes within each county water supply department a two-year water conservation financial assistance pilot program to provide financial assistance to county-owned water systems to implement water conservation incentive programs;

 

     (2)  Appropriates funds to support the county water conservation financial assistance pilot programs; and

 

     (3)  Requires each county water supply department to provide funds on a dollar-to-dollar cost share basis to match state funds appropriated for the water conservation financial assistance program.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; the Mayor's Office of the County of Hawaii; the Honolulu Board of Water Supply; One World One Water, LLC; The Nature Conservancy; Hawaii Fresh Water Initiative; Ulupono Initiative; Sierra Club of Hawaii; U.S. Green Building Code Council Hawaii Chapter; Hawaii Green Growth; and five individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that Hawaii, as an island state, has limited access to natural fresh water, and believes that providing state financial assistance to county-owned public water systems that implement water conservation measures and practices will reduce water use and waste.

 

     Your Committee notes that questions have been raised regarding the Legislature's potential lack of statutory authority to require the establishment of specific programs within county agencies, or to require county agencies to expend county funds for a pilot program, absent statutory provisions conferring those authorities.  Your Committee respectfully requests that those issues be addressed by a Conference Committee that may further consider this measure.

 

     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 H.B. No. 636, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

 

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

 

 

 

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair