Bill Text: HI HB1586 | 2024 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating To Cesspools.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 8-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2024-01-24 - Referred to EEP/WAL, FIN, referral sheet 1 [HB1586 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2024-HB1586-Introduced.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
1586 |
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THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to cesspools.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the vast number of cesspools in the State pose significant risks to the health and safety its people and the environment. There are approximately eighty-three thousand cesspools across the State, with nearly forty-nine thousand on Hawaii island, over fourteen thousand on Kauai, over eleven thousand on Maui, nearly seven thousand five hundred on Oahu, and approximately one thousand four hundred on Molokai. These cesspools are contaminating the State's ground water, streams, drinking water, and coastal ecosystems. The legislature notes that the State is obligated to protect, control, and regulate the use of the State's water resources under article XI, section 7, of the Hawaii State Constitution.
The legislature further finds that Act 125, Session Laws of Hawaii 2017 (Act 125), requires every cesspool in the State, excluding cesspools granted exemptions by the director of health, to be upgraded or converted to an approved wastewater system or connected to a sewerage system by January 1, 2050. Act 132, Session Laws of Hawaii 2018, authorized the department of health to establish a cesspool conversion working group to develop a long-range, comprehensive plan for cesspool conversion statewide for all cesspools by 2050. As part of its work, the cesspool conversion working group developed a Hawaii cesspool hazard assessment and prioritization tool report, which in 2021 identified four cesspool conversion priority categories, with priority 1 being cesspools in areas that have a significant risk of human health impacts, drinking water impacts, or draining to sensitive waters. According to the prioritization tool, the areas of Haleiwa and Waialua on Oahu contain three hundred twenty-four cesspools that are designated as priority 1.
The purpose of this Act is to require the department of health to conduct a feasibility study on the establishment of a wastewater treatment works project in Waialua, Oahu, to assist with the conversion of cesspools in this area in compliance with Act 125 .
SECTION 2. (a) The department of health shall conduct a feasibility study on the establishment of a wastewater treatment works project in the Waialua region of Oahu.
(b) The study shall examine the capabilities and potential for interconnection of neighborhoods to the sewerage system, beginning with the community of Ranch Camp in Waialua, Oahu, and later the entire Waialua region.
(c) The department of health shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the governor and legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2025.
SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 for the department of health's feasibility study required by section 2 of this Act.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 4. In accordance with section 9 of article VII of the Hawaii State Constitution and sections 37‑91 and 37‑93, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the legislature has determined that the appropriations contained in H.B. No. , will cause the state general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2024‑2025 to be exceeded by $ or per cent. In addition, the appropriation contained in this Act will cause the general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2024‑2025 to be further exceeded by $ or per cent. The combined total amount of general fund appropriations contained in only these two Acts will cause the state general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2024‑2025 to be exceeded by $ or per cent. The reasons for exceeding the general fund expenditure ceiling are that:
(1) The appropriation made in this Act is necessary to serve the public interest; and
(2) The appropriation made in this Act meets the needs addressed by this Act.
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2024.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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Report Title:
DOH; Wastewater Treatment; Feasibility Study; Cesspool Conversion; Appropriation; Expenditure Ceiling
Description:
Requires the Department of Health to conduct a feasibility study on the establishment of a wastewater treatment works project in Waialua, Oahu. Appropriates funds.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
