STAND. COM. REP. NO. 391

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 1304

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committees on Economic Development, Government Operations and Housing and Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 1304 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Establish smart growth planning districts, create a comprehensive application process to apply for mixed-use qualified projects, and establish the transit-oriented redevelopment district program; and

 

     (2)  Allow for the floor area from designated sending areas to be transferred to smart growth planning districts.

 

     Prior to the hearing on this measure, your Committees posted for public review a proposed S.D. 1 to authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds in the sum of $500,000,000 and to make an appropriation to the City and County of Honolulu for sewer infrastructure improvements.

 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of the proposed S.D. 1 from the Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu, Department of Environmental Services, The Pacific Resource Partnership, Building Industry Association of Hawaii, The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, and two individuals.

 

     Your Committees find that the City and County of Honolulu has an aging infrastructure that continues to deteriorate each day. Honolulu has some of the oldest sewer infrastructure in the State, especially in the urban core areas.  Some of its oldest existing sewer lines were originally installed before statehood.

 

     The City and County of Honolulu has approximately 2,100 miles of sewer lines that range in age from new to over 80 years old. It is constantly necessary to upgrade these sewer lines to ensure effective and safe operation, improve reliability, and provide necessary capacity for the community.

 

     Your Committees have amended this measure by adopting the proposed S.D. 1 and further amending the measure by deleting the specific dollar amount for the appropriation.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Economic Development, Government Operations and Housing and Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1304, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1304, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Economic Development, Government Operations and Housing and Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs,

 

____________________________ WILL ESPERO, Chair		____________________________ DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair