THE SENATE                           S.C.R. NO.            209
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2000                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                    SENATE  CONCURRENT
                        RESOLUTION

  REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF
    CONVERTING THE SMALL BUSINESS OMBUDSMAN POSITION TO AN
    ENVIRONMENTAL CONSUMER ADVOCATE POSITION.



 1        WHEREAS, the laws and rules relating to the quality of the
 2   State's air, water, and soil affect all consumers in the State,
 3   individuals and businesses alike; and
 4   
 5        WHEREAS, the Consumer Advocate represents the interests of
 6   consumers of utility services, but no entity exists to
 7   represent the concerns and advocate on the behalf of consumers
 8   on environmental issues; and 
 9   
10        WHEREAS, the creation of an Environmental Consumer
11   Advocate to represent the interests of consumers on
12   environmental issues would allow consumers' environmental
13   concerns to be more effectively presented and addressed; and
14   
15        WHEREAS, Act 240, Session Laws of Hawaii 1992, established
16   within the Department of Health the position of Small Business
17   Ombudsman for air pollution control to assist small businesses
18   that may be affected by air pollution control rules and to
19   assist in the development and continued operation of the small
20   business assistance program established under section 342B-61,
21   HRS; and
22   
23        WHEREAS, the Small Business Ombudsman's position is
24   currently funded, but not filled; and
25   
26        WHEREAS, the duties of an Environmental Health Advocate,
27   as envisioned by the Legislature, could encompass the duties of
28   the Small Business Ombudsman, but would be broader-based, and
29   relate to all environmental laws and rules as they affect all
30   consumers; and
31   
32        WHEREAS, it would be more economic and efficient to
33   establish a single position to represent the environmentally-
34   related concerns of all consumers and this could be effected by
35   converting the currently funded, but vacant position of Small

 
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                                  S.C.R. NO.            209
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1   Business Ombudsman to the position of Environmental Consumer
 2   Advocate; and
 3   
 4        WHEREAS, establishing an Environmental Consumer Advocate
 5   position in lieu of a Small Business Ombudsman position
 6   requires further review to study the impact and feasibility of
 7   such a conversion; now, therefore,    
 8   
 9        BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twentieth Legislature
10   of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2000, the House of
11   Representatives concurring, that the Department of Health is
12   requested to study the feasibility of replacing the Small
13   Business Ombudsman with an Environmental Consumer Advocate; and
14   
15        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Health
16   submit its findings and recommendations, including any proposed
17   legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days
18   before the convening of the Regular Session of 2000; and
19   
20        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this
21   Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Health. 
22 
23 
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25                         OFFERED BY:  ____________________________