STAND. COM. REP. NO. 204

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 21

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Economic Development, Government Operations and Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 21 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE STATE CAPITOL REFLECTING POOLS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds and make appropriations to the Department of Accounting and General Services for the repair and maintenance of the State Capitol reflecting pools.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Accounting and General Services; Department of Land and Natural Resources; Historic Hawaii Foundation; Roth Ecological Design International, LLC; and one individual.

 

     Your Committee finds that although the State Capitol reflecting pools are character-defining features of the State Capitol that contribute to its historic significance, the pools are in dire need of repair and maintenance.  They are plagued by persistent algae growth, and water in the pools become stagnant over time due to inadequate filtration and have a propensity to leak into the underlying chamber level below.  This measure will develop and implement a plan that will address long-term concerns about the repair and maintenance of the pools while ensuring the historic integrity of the Capitol is preserved.

 

     Your Committee inquired about whether water circulated through the reflecting pools may be used for other purposes, such as irrigation, and is awaiting a response from the Department of Accounting and General Services.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Deleting references to the use of a natural filtration system using aquatic plants for bioremediation and replacing them with language giving the Department of Accounting and General Services flexibility to choose the type of filtration method to be used; and

 

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Economic Development, Government Operations and Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 21, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 21, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Economic Development, Government Operations and Housing,

 

 

 

____________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair