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HB1404
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H.B. NO.
1404
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
STATE OF HAWAII
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating
to cesspool closure
.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
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SECTION
1.
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The legislature finds that there are
more than eighty thousand cesspools across the State that pollute groundwater
and nearshore water and threaten environmental and human health, and that there
is a compelling state interest to close such cesspools.
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Pursuant to Act 125, Session Laws of Hawaii
2017 (Act 125), cesspools must be closed by January 1, 2050, and replaced with
approved systems or connected to sewer infrastructure, however the cost
impediments on homeowners to comply with Act 125 have made the conversions and
connections financially challenging.
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The
legislature further finds that in some areas that currently have cesspools,
counties are planning to install new wastewater infrastructure to connect
existing homes to county sewers.
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The
legislature also finds that connecting homes to sewers to meet the requirements
of Act 125 is a solution that should be encouraged in all areas where this is
feasible because it is cost-effective for homeowners and treats wastewater to a
higher standard than the most common individual wastewater systems that might
replace cesspools in more rural areas, such as septic systems.
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The
legislature believes that offering a subsidy to homeowners for their portion of
the sewer lateral connections and to help cover the cost of cesspools closures
for specific projects will encourage counties to plan more sewer infrastructure
expansions in the future, ease the burden on homeowners, and protect the health
of Hawaii's environment and people.
�
Certain
projects already in progress in Ewa Beach on Oahu and in Keaukaha on Hawaii
Island are good candidates to pilot a program that offers this type of
assistance in order to determine if such a program should be established on an
ongoing basis to help homeowners within sewer improvement districts with their
portion of the costs.
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Such a program would provide an
incentive for counties to look for additional future projects that might be
facilitated by the availability of these funds
.
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The purpose of this Act is to
appropriate funds to create residential sewer connection and cesspool closure
subsidy pilot programs to assist with sewer projects nearing implementation in Ewa
Beach, Oahu and Keaukaha, Hawaii
.
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SECTION
2.
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There is appropriated out of the
general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $12,000,000 or so much
thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or so
much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the city and
county of Honolulu to establish a residential sewer connection and cesspool
closure subsidy pilot program to:
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(1)
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Assist with planned sewer projects for
residents in Ewa Beach, Oahu; and
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(2)
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Provide rebates to homeowners, create a
forgivable loan program, or create a program to allow a contractor to claim the
funding on behalf of a homeowner;
provided that the city and county of Honolulu shall
use no more than $
for the administration of this subsidy pilot program.
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The sums
appropriated shall be expended by the
city and county of Honolulu for the purposes of this Act.
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SECTION
3.
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There is appropriated out of the
general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $6,000,000 or so much
thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or so
much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the county of
Hawaii to establish a residential sewer connection and cesspool closure subsidy
pilot program to:
����
(1)
�
Assist with planned sewer projects for
residents in Keaukaha, Hawaii; and
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(2)
�
Provide rebates to homeowners, create a
forgivable loan program, or create a program to allow a contractor to claim the
funding on behalf of a homeowner;
provided that the county of Hawaii shall use no more
than $ for the
administration of this subsidy pilot program.
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The sums
appropriated shall be expended by the
county of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.
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SECTION
4.
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The city and county of Honolulu and
county of Hawaii shall each submit a report on how the funds appropriated
pursuant to this Act were disbursed, how many homeowners benefited, and any
recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no
later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of
2026.
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SECTION 5.
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This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.
INTRODUCED BY:
_____________________________
Report Title:
Cesspool
Closure; City and County of Honolulu; County of Hawaii; Appropriation
Description:
Appropriates
funds for
a residential sewer connection and cesspool closure subsidy
pilot program.
The summary description
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not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.