Bill Text: HI HB1840 | 2024 | Regular Session | Amended

Hawaii House Bill 1840

Bill Title: Relating To The Environment.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 43-6)

Status: (Engrossed) 2024-03-20 - The committee on WTL deferred the measure. [HB1840 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2024-HB1840-Amended.html

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1840
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024		H.D. 2
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO THE ENVIRONMENT.

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that based on the recommendations of the house of representatives environmental remediation working group, wildfires that engulf urban areas contain more toxic chemicals than wildfires that simply consume wood and natural materials. Materials burned in urban fires can include household appliances, commercial appliances, vehicles, and construction materials, which can leave behind a variety of chemicals, contaminants, and debris that can persist in the ecosystem.

The legislature further finds that conducting nearshore coastal water quality testing and contaminant testing is necessary to monitor the short- and long-term risks of wildfires to the ecosystem, community, and environment. Environmental contamination due to runoff, debris, and other hazardous materials is inevitable following an urban fire. In the case of the Maui wildfires, various state departments and organizations are conducting testing and monitoring of water and air samples to determine any immediate risks. Long-term monitoring is preferable to evaluate whether there are any long-term risks to human health and the ecosystem.

The purpose of this Act is to allocate funding resources for long-term monitoring of water quality, as well as support for research efforts to better understand the environmental concerns linked to urban fires.

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 2024-2025 to the department of land and natural resources for the following:

(1) The sum of $ to support regular ongoing chemical/physical coastal water quality testing and storm sampling;

(2) The sum of $ to support characterizing thousands of organic compounds (e.g., polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), persistent organic pollutants (POPs), and perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)), fish and invertebrate contaminants, and in-water and sediment contaminants, and autosamplers to measure carbonate chemistry, including instrumentation for continuous measurement of flow, salinity, depth, temperature, pH, oxygen, chlorophyll, and dissolved organic fluorescence;

(3) The sum of $ for full-time equivalent ( FTE) aquatic biologist III to support long-term water quality monitoring and pollution source detection; and

(4) The sum of $ for full-time equivalent ( FTE) aquatic biologist IV to support long-term water quality monitoring and pollution source detection.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of land and natural resources for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. 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 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.

Report Title:

DLNR; Water Quality Monitoring; Pollution Detection; Appropriation; Expenditure Ceiling

Description:

Appropriates funds to the Department of Land and Natural Resources to support long-term water quality monitoring and pollution source detection. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

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