Title
RESOLUTION 24-131, APPROVING FOR INCLUSION IN THE 2025 MAUI COUNTY COUNCIL LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE A STATE BILL RELATING TO THE COMMISSION ON WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT (GREAT-28(2))
Description
The Committee is in receipt of Resolution 24-131, entitled “APPROVING FOR INCLUSION IN THE 2025 MAUI COUNTY COUNCIL LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE A STATE BILL RELATING TO THE COMMISSION ON WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT.” Resolution 24-131’s purpose is to approve for inclusion in the 2025 Maui County Council Legislative Package a proposed State bill, attached as Exhibit “A,” entitled “A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE COMMISSION ON WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT.” The purposes of the proposed State bill are to:
(1) Define the public trust purposes of the Commission on Water Resource Management and require the Commission, in acting upon water use permit applications, to prioritize applications for public trust purposes;
(2) Allow the Commission to retain independent legal counsel;
(3) Repeal the position of Deputy to the Chairperson of the Commission and establish the position of Executive Director of the Commission;
(4) Amend the composition of the Commission and administratively attach it to the Department of Land and Natural Resources;
(5) Authorize entities to challenge an emergency order of the Commission under certain conditions;
(6) Establish fines for certain water use offenses; and
(7) Amend the Commission’s authority to declare water emergencies and issue orders to address them and declare water shortages and related notice requirements.
Status
The Committee may consider whether to recommend adoption of Resolution 24-131, with or without revisions. The Committee may also consider the filing of Resolution 24-131 and other related action.