HB 1908 Summary

• Establishes a state water and sewer surcharge imposed by counties on each water utility customer's water and sewer bill to fund repair, maintenance, and construction of water and sewer infrastructure.

• Requires the Commission on Water Resource Management to establish the surcharge rate pursuant to chapter 91, with authority to temporarily reduce the rate if annual revenues exceed established thresholds.

• Allows each county to retain 1% of gross surcharge proceeds collected for assessment, collection, disposition, and oversight costs.

• Creates the state water and sewer surcharge special fund administered by the Hawaii Community Development Authority, with all collected surcharges (minus county retentions) paid quarterly to the Authority for deposit into the fund.

• Establishes the water and sewer infrastructure grant program to award grants from the special fund to counties for water and sewer infrastructure repair, maintenance, and construction projects; effective July 1, 2020.