REPORT TITLE:
Artificial Turf Prohibited


DESCRIPTION:
Prohibits the installation and use of artificial turf on state-
owned or maintained playing fields.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                        
THE SENATE                              S.B. NO.           2017
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2000                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                   A  BILL  FOR  AN  ACT

RELATING TO ARTIFICIAL TURF.



BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 1      SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the Aloha Stadium is
 
 2 showcased each year during the University of Hawaii football
 
 3 season, the Aloha and Oahu Bowls, and the Pro Bowl.  Hawaii, as
 
 4 "paradise", should be placing special attention on green grass
 
 5 and trees within a pleasant, tropical atmosphere.  Therefore, it
 
 6 is imperative that all playing fields controlled by the State
 
 7 have natural grass as a playing surface rather than artificial
 
 8 turf such as at the Aloha Stadium.
 
 9      The legislature further finds that the National Football
 
10 League has also stated concerns for players who are prone to more
 
11 serious injuries due to artificial surfaces.  Football players
 
12 are also complaining about artificial surfaces out of concern for
 
13 injuries.  Therefore, for the health and welfare of athletes,
 
14 artificial surfaces should be prohibited on state-owned playing
 
15 fields.
 
16      SECTION 2.  The Hawaii Revised Statutes is amended by adding
 
17 a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as
 
18 follows:
 

 
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 1      "§   -     Artificial turf prohibited.  (a)  Notwithstanding
 
 2 any other law to the contrary, the installation of artificial
 
 3 turf in any state-owned or operated playing field is prohibited
 
 4 after December 31, 2000.
 
 5      (b)  As used in this section:
 
 6      "Artificial turf" means a carpet-like covering made of
 
 7 vinyl, nylon, or other artificial substances to resemble turf.
 
 8      "Playing field" includes a field used for team practice.
 
 9      (c)  Except as provided in section 109-    and 304-   , the
 
10 department of accounting and general services shall adopt rules
 
11 pursuant to chapter 91 for the efficient implementation and
 
12 enforcement of this section."
 
13      SECTION 3.  Chapter 109, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended
 
14 by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to
 
15 read as follows:
 
16      "§109-     Artificial turf prohibited.  (a)  Notwithstanding
 
17 any other law to the contrary, the installation of artificial
 
18 turf in the stadium is prohibited after December 31, 2000.
 
19      (b)  As used in this section:
 
20      "Artificial turf" means a carpet-like covering made of
 
21 vinyl, nylon, or other artificial substances to resemble turf.
 
22      "Playing field" includes a field used for team practice.
 
23      (c)  The stadium authority shall adopt rules pursuant to
 
24 chapter 91 for the efficient implementation and enforcement of
 

 
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 1 this section."
 
 2      SECTION 4.  Chapter 304, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended
 
 3 by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to
 
 4 read as follows:
 
 5      "§304-     Artificial turf prohibited.  (a)  Notwithstanding
 
 6 any other law to the contrary, the installation of artificial
 
 7 turf in any state-owned or operated playing field under the
 
 8 jurisdiction of the University of Hawaii is prohibited after
 
 9 December 31, 2000.
 
10      (b)  As used in this section:
 
11      "Artificial turf" means a carpet-like covering made of
 
12 vinyl, nylon, or other artificial substances to resemble turf.
 
13      "Playing field" includes a field used for team practice.
 
14      (c)  The University of Hawaii shall adopt rules pursuant to
 
15 chapter 91 for the efficient implementation and enforcement of
 
16 this section."
 
17      SECTION 5.  The stadium authority and the University of
 
18 Hawaii, with respect to the playing fields within their
 
19 respective jurisdictions, and the department of accounting and
 
20 general services, with respect to the playing fields under the
 
21 jurisdiction of all other state agencies, as appropriate, shall
 
22 each:
 
23      (1)  Provide for the removal and replacement of artificial
 

 
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 1           turf on all state-owned or maintained playing fields
 
 2           with natural grass by January 1, 2001; and
 
 3      (2)  Report progress made in converting state-owned or
 
 4           operated playing fields from artificial turf to grass,
 
 5           including recommendations and any proposed legislative
 
 6           changes, to the legislature no later than twenty days
 
 7           before the convening of the regular session of 2001.
 
 8      SECTION 6.  This Act shall not apply to any state-owned or
 
 9 operated playing field for which the State has contracted out
 
10 installation or maintenance of artificial turf to a private
 
11 company; provided that no such contract shall be renewed upon its
 
12 termination.  The provisions of this Act shall not be applied so
 
13 as to impair any contract existing as of the effective date of
 
14 this Act or to otherwise be deemed to violate either the Hawaii
 
15 Constitution or article I, section 10, of the United States
 
16 Constitution.
 
17      SECTION 7.  New statutory material is underscored.
 
18      SECTION 8.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
 
19 
 
20                           INTRODUCED BY:  _______________________