Bill Text: HI HB458 | 2024 | Regular Session | Introduced

Hawaii House Bill 458

Introduced

Bill Title: Relating To Water.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Introduced) 2023-12-11 - Carried over to 2024 Regular Session. [HB458 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2024-HB458-Introduced.html

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	458
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO WATER.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. (a) There is established within the department of business, economic development, and tourism for administrative purposes the desalination planning task force.

(b) The task force shall comprise the following members:

(1) The director of the office of planning and sustainable development or the director's designee, who shall serve as chairperson;

(2) The director of health or the director's designee;

(3) The chairperson of the commission on water resource management or the chairperson's designee;

(4) One member representing a municipal water agency from each county, to be appointed by each respective county's mayor;

(5) One member from the water resources research center of the university of Hawaii, to be appointed by the president of the university of Hawaii;

(6) A member of the senate, to be appointed by the president of the senate;

(7) A member of the house of representatives, to be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; and

(8) A member of the public with relevant knowledge or experience in desalination, water resource management, or water distribution, to be appointed by the governor;

provided that the task force, by a majority vote, may invite other individuals with relevant knowledge or experience to serve on the task force.

(c) The members of the task force shall not be subject to chapter 84, Hawaii Revised Statutes, solely based on their participation on the task force.

(d) Members of the task force shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for reasonable expenses, including travel expenses, necessary for the performance of their duties.

(e) The office of planning and sustainable development shall provide administrative support to the task force.

(f) The task force shall:

(1) Examine the feasibility of using desalination as a source of clean and safe drinking water to supplement Hawaii's existing groundwater and surface water resources;

(2) Determine the extent to which the use of desalination will:

(A) Assist the State meet its projected future water needs; and

(B) Improve the resiliency of Hawaii's water systems, considering in particular the impacts of the water crisis caused by contamination at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility; and

(3) Establish a plan to implement desalination, including required capital improvements, projected operating costs, and a projected timeline to construct and begin operating desalination plants.

(g) The task force shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2024.

SECTION 2. 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 2023-2024 for expenses of the desalination planning task force.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the office of planning for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

Potable Water; Desalination; Task Force; Appropriation

Description:

Establishes a Desalination Planning Task Force to examine the feasibility of, and develop a plan and timeline for, the use desalination as a source of potable water in the State. Appropriates moneys.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.