STTVND. COM. REP. NO.
Honolulu, Hawaii
APR 0 2 2025
RE: S.R. No. 99
S.D. 1
Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi
President of the Senate
Thirty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2025
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was
referred S.R. No. 99 entitled:
"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO
CONVENE A WORKING GROUP TO ASSESS THE FEASIBILITY OF ALLOWING
BUSINESS OWNERS IN THE STATE TO UTILIZE FILTERED WATER
COLLECTED BY WATER CATCHMENT SYSTEMS FOR BUSINESS
ACTIVITIES,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the
Department of Health to convene a working group to assess the
feasibility of allowing business owners in the State to utilize
filtered water collected by water catchment systems for business
activities.
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure
from the Plumbing and Mechanical Contractors Association of
Hawaii.
Your Committee received comments on this measure from the
Department of Health.
Your Committee finds that pursuing innovative solutions to
decrease use of the State's limited aquifers is critical to
addressing the fragility of the State's water system. Your
Committee further finds that water catchment systems are one
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innovative solution that can supplement potable water systems and
conserve natural resources by efficiently capturing and utilizing
rainwater; however, existing law prohibits the use of captured
water for business activities. Your Committee notes that for
water collected from a water catchment system to be considered
viable, the drinking water produced from the water catchment
system must meet quality standards and be subject to regulatory
control. Your Committee further notes that regulation of drinking
water sources in the State involves multiple agencies and
overlapping federal and state regulations. Accordingly, this
resolution convenes the Business Activity Water Catchment System
Working Group comprising relevant stakeholders from the State,
counties, and public to collaborate on the potential authorization
of using water from water catchment systems for business
activities.
Your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Requesting the Director of Health or the Director's
designee to serve as the chairperson of the Business
Activity Water Catchment System Working Group, rather
than the members from the Senate and House of
Representatives to serve as co-chairs;
(2) Adding the Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture as a
member of the Business Activity Water Catchment System
Working Group; and
(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the
purposes of clarity and consistency.
Your Committee notes the Department of Health's request for
$100,000 to retain a working group facilitator to assist the
Business Activity Water Catchment System Working Group in
performing the assessment and developing the recommendations
requested in this measure. Your Committee requests that the
Department of Health submit a request for the needed funds to be
included in its budget.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this
report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R.
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No. 99, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form
attached hereto as S.R. No. 99, S.D. 1.
Respectfully submitted on
behalf of the members of the
Committee on Health and Human
Services,
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 The Senate
Thirty-Third Legislature
State of Hawaii
Record of Votes
Committee on Health and Human Services
HHS
Bill / Resolution No.:* Committee Referral: Date: .
__ The Committee is reconsidering its previous decision on this measure.
If so, then the previous decision was to:___________________________________
The Recommendation is:
__ Pass, unamended [22FPass, with amendments Hold __ Recommit
2312 2311 2310 2313
Members Aye Aye (WR) Nay Excused
SAN BUENAVENTURA, Joy A. (C)
AQUINO, Henry J.C. (VC)
HASHIMOTO, Troy N.
KEOHOKALOLE, Jarrett
FEVELLA, Kurt
TOTAL
Recommendation: '
Adopted __ Not Adopted
Chair’s or Designee’s Signature;,.,,-—-------
—____
Distribution; Original Yellow Pink ---------- Goldenrod
File with Committee Report Clerk's Office Drafting Agency Committee File Copy
*Only one measure per Record of Votes
Revised; 12/09/24