Hawaii 2025 Regular Session

Hawaii House Bill HB509 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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1	1	HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B. NO. 509 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT relating to state water code penalties. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
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3	3	HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B. NO. 509
4	4	THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
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7	7	HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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9	9	H.B. NO.
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13	13	THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
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17	17	STATE OF HAWAII
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31	31	A BILL FOR AN ACT
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37	37	relating to state water code penalties.
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43	43	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
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47	47	SECTION 1. The legislature finds that in 1987, the state water code was adopted to protect the precious water resources of the State. To better enable the department of land and natural resources and commission on water resource management to carry out that mission, the legislature further finds that the state water code's penalties and fines must be amended and increased to serve as an effective deterrent. The purpose of this Act is to ensure that all violators of the state water code are held accountable for their violations by: (1) Adding a minimum penalty and amending the maximum penalty per violation of the state water code and clarifying what constitutes a separate offense; and (2) Requiring the commission on water resource management to consider certain factors when imposing penalties. SECTION 2. Section 174C-15, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows: "§174C-15 Penalties and common law remedies. (a) The commission may enforce its rules and orders adopted pursuant to this chapter by suit for injunction or for damages or both. (b) Any person who [violates]: (1) Violates any provision of this chapter[, or]; (2) Violates any rule adopted pursuant to this chapter[, may]; (3) Violates any order of the commission; (4) Fails to obtain a permit when a permit is required under this chapter; (5) Fails to comply with permit conditions; or (6) Fails to comply with standardized water audit requirements pursuant to Act 169, Session Laws of Hawaii 2016, may be subject to a fine imposed by the commission. [Such] The fine shall be no less than $50 and shall not exceed [$5,000. For a continuing offense, each day during which the offense is committed is a separate violation.] $25,000 per violation. Each day that a violation exists or continues to exist shall constitute a separate offense. Penalties for continuing violations shall be assessed from the earliest known date of the violation. The earliest known date of a violation shall be determined by the commission by a preponderance of the evidence; provided that if the earliest known date cannot be determined by a preponderance of the evidence, penalties for continuing violations shall be assessed from the earliest date the commission is made aware of the violation. (c) When imposing a penalty, the commission shall consider the following factors, including but not limited to: (1) The nature, circumstances, extent, gravity, and history of the violation and of any prior violations; (2) The economic benefit to the violator, or anticipated by the violator, resulting from the violation; (3) The opportunity, difficulty, and history of corrective action; (4) Good faith efforts to comply; (5) Degree of culpability; and (6) Such other matters as justice may require. The commission shall adopt further guidelines for penalties to be imposed at a duly-noticed public meeting. [(c)] (d) No provision of this chapter shall bar the right of any injured person to seek other legal or equitable relief against a violator of this chapter. [(d)] (e) Except as otherwise provided by law, the commission or its authorized representative by proper delegation may set, charge, and collect administrative fines [or]; may bring legal action to recover administrative fees and costs as documented by receipts or affidavit, including [attorneys'] attorney's fees and costs; [or] and may bring legal action to recover administrative fines, fees, and costs, including [attorneys'] attorney's fees and costs, or payment for damages resulting from a violation of this chapter or any rule adopted pursuant to this chapter." SECTION 3. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored. SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025. INTRODUCED BY: _____________________________
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49	49	SECTION 1. The legislature finds that in 1987, the state water code was adopted to protect the precious water resources of the State. To better enable the department of land and natural resources and commission on water resource management to carry out that mission, the legislature further finds that the state water code's penalties and fines must be amended and increased to serve as an effective deterrent.
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51	51	The purpose of this Act is to ensure that all violators of the state water code are held accountable for their violations by:
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53	53	(1) Adding a minimum penalty and amending the maximum penalty per violation of the state water code and clarifying what constitutes a separate offense; and
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55	55	(2) Requiring the commission on water resource management to consider certain factors when imposing penalties.
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57	57	SECTION 2. Section 174C-15, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
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59	59	"§174C-15 Penalties and common law remedies. (a) The commission may enforce its rules and orders adopted pursuant to this chapter by suit for injunction or for damages or both.
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61	61	(b) Any person who [violates]:
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63	63	(1) Violates any provision of this chapter[, or];
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65	65	(2) Violates any rule adopted pursuant to this chapter[, may];
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67	67	(3) Violates any order of the commission;
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69	69	(4) Fails to obtain a permit when a permit is required under this chapter;
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71	71	(5) Fails to comply with permit conditions; or
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73	73	(6) Fails to comply with standardized water audit requirements pursuant to Act 169, Session Laws of Hawaii 2016,
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75	75	may be subject to a fine imposed by the commission. [Such] The fine shall be no less than $50 and shall not exceed [$5,000. For a continuing offense, each day during which the offense is committed is a separate violation.] $25,000 per violation. Each day that a violation exists or continues to exist shall constitute a separate offense. Penalties for continuing violations shall be assessed from the earliest known date of the violation. The earliest known date of a violation shall be determined by the commission by a preponderance of the evidence; provided that if the earliest known date cannot be determined by a preponderance of the evidence, penalties for continuing violations shall be assessed from the earliest date the commission is made aware of the violation.
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77	77	(c) When imposing a penalty, the commission shall consider the following factors, including but not limited to:
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79	79	(1) The nature, circumstances, extent, gravity, and history of the violation and of any prior violations;
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81	81	(2) The economic benefit to the violator, or anticipated by the violator, resulting from the violation;
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83	83	(3) The opportunity, difficulty, and history of corrective action;
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85	85	(4) Good faith efforts to comply;
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87	87	(5) Degree of culpability; and
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89	89	(6) Such other matters as justice may require.
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91	91	The commission shall adopt further guidelines for penalties to be imposed at a duly-noticed public meeting.
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93	93	[(c)] (d) No provision of this chapter shall bar the right of any injured person to seek other legal or equitable relief against a violator of this chapter.
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95	95	[(d)] (e) Except as otherwise provided by law, the commission or its authorized representative by proper delegation may set, charge, and collect administrative fines [or]; may bring legal action to recover administrative fees and costs as documented by receipts or affidavit, including [attorneys'] attorney's fees and costs; [or] and may bring legal action to recover administrative fines, fees, and costs, including [attorneys'] attorney's fees and costs, or payment for damages resulting from a violation of this chapter or any rule adopted pursuant to this chapter."
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97	97	SECTION 3. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
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99	99	SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.
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103	103	INTRODUCED BY: _____________________________
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105	105	INTRODUCED BY:
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107	107	_____________________________
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113	113	Report Title: State Water Code; Commission on Water Resource Management; Penalties Description: Adds a minimum penalty and amends the maximum penalty per violation of the State Water Code, expands the types of potential violations of the State Water Code, and makes each day that a violation exists or continues to exist a separate offense. Requires the Commission on Water Resource Management to consider certain factors when imposing penalties. The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
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119	119	Report Title:
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121	121	State Water Code; Commission on Water Resource Management; Penalties
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125	125	Description:
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127	127	Adds a minimum penalty and amends the maximum penalty per violation of the State Water Code, expands the types of potential violations of the State Water Code, and makes each day that a violation exists or continues to exist a separate offense. Requires the Commission on Water Resource Management to consider certain factors when imposing penalties.
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135	135	The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.