STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1294

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.C.R. No. 124

       S.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 124, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE CONVENING OF TASK FORCES TO DEVELOP COMMUNITY BENEFITS PACKAGES FOR THE NEIGHBORHOODS LOCATED NEAREST TO LANDFILLS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the Director of Health to convene a task force with each county to develop a community benefits package for neighborhoods located closest to landfills.  As part of the community benefits packages, the task forces are requested to consider reduction or elimination of property taxes for homeowners nearest to the landfills and user fees to support community health centers near the landfills.

 

     Your Committee received comments in opposition to this measure from the Department of Environmental Services, City and County of Honolulu.

 

     Your Committee received comments on this measure from The Resort Group; and Gary M. Slovin, PVT Land Company.

 

     Your Committee finds that landfills in the State may disproportionately and adversely affect persons who live in close proximity to a landfill and that community benefits packages should be developed for residents of these neighborhoods to offset the negative effects.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

(1)  Clarifying that residents of neighborhoods located closest to landfills may deserve special consideration in the name of environmental justice; and

 

(2)  Specifying a specific amount for the user fees and tipping fees that the task forces are requested to support as funding mechanisms for community health centers located closest to landfills.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 124, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 124, S.D. 2.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

 

 

 

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair