CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 4

Honolulu, Hawaii

                 , 2015

RE:    S.B. No. 878

       S.D. 1

       H.D. 1

       C.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Madam and Sir:

     Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 878, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WASTEWATER,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

     The purpose of this measure is to:

     (1)  Authorize the counties to approve the installation and use of composting toilets in areas that are inaccessible to municipal wastewater systems; and

     (2)  Define "composting toilet".

     Your Committee on Conference finds that the existing flush and septic systems in certain areas of the State are ill-suited due to geographic challenges and scarce water supplies.  These areas present formidable engineering challenges including proximity to the ocean, hard volcanic rock, and groundwater just two feet below the surface.  Composting toilets are a viable alternative in areas that are inaccessible to municipal water systems.  Authorizing the counties to approve the installation and use of composting toilets will improve the health and welfare of the State.

     Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by inserting an effective date of upon approval.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 878, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 878, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ CHRIS LEE, Co-Chair	____________________________ WILL ESPERO, Chair
____________________________ NICOLE E. LOWEN, Co-Chair	____________________________ JOSH GREEN, Co-Chair
	____________________________ J. KALANI ENGLISH, Co-Chair