STAND. COM. REP. NO.  598-22

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2022

 

RE:   H.B. No. 2195

      H.D. 2

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 2195, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CESSPOOLS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to establish and appropriate funds for a Cesspool Compliance Pilot Grant Project to assist low- and moderate-income property owners and lessees on Hawaiian home lands with the costs of upgrading, converting, or connecting a cesspool.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, University of Hawaii System Sea Grant College Program, Kahaluu Neighborhood Board No. 29, Rotary Club Hanalei Bay, WAI:  Wastewater Alternatives & Innovations, Hawaii Reef and Ocean Coalition, and six individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii Association of REALTORS and one individual.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

 

Your Committee finds that cesspools are a major source of pollution to Hawaii's waters.  Cesspools discharge untreated sewage, which may reach the groundwater and flow into drinking water sources, streams, and the ocean.  Since approximately ninety-five percent of all drinking water in the State comes from groundwater sources, these discharges pose a serious risk of harm to public health and the environment.

 

     Your Committee further finds that the Legislature, through Act 125, Session Laws of Hawaii 2017, mandated the upgrade or conversion of all cesspools in the State to certain wastewater management systems or connection to a sewerage system by 2050.  However, the rate of upgrade, conversion, and connection has been underwhelming, and further action is needed to incentivize upgrades, conversions, and connections.  This measure establishes the Cesspool Compliance Pilot Grant Project to award grants for the upgrade or conversion of a cesspool to certain wastewater management systems or connection to a sewerage system.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by deleting the specific types of wastewater systems a failing cesspool can be upgraded or converted to under the pilot grant project and identifying a Director-approved wastewater system instead.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2195, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2195, H.D. 2.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

AARON LING JOHANSON, Chair