H.B. 182 Summary

• Requires the Department of Health's Clean Water Branch to continue water quality testing during brown water advisories as practicable, provided hazardous conditions have subsided before sample collection.

• Mandates the Department of Health issue health advisories during brown water events that explain health risks associated with water runoff and make proactive efforts to communicate these advisories to the public.

• Requires the Department of Health to consider environmental justice issues when assessing beach usage and public health risks for determining which beaches are included in Hawaii's beach monitoring program.

• Directs the Department of Health to adopt or amend administrative rules under Chapter 91, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to implement the bill's requirements.

• Appropriates funding from general revenues for fiscal years 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 to support the Department of Health in carrying out these requirements, effective July 1, 2023.