STAND. COM. REP. NO. 536________

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 1999

                                 RE: H.B. No. 1237
                                     H.D. 1




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs, to which
was referred H.B. No. 1237 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FIREWORKS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to allow the counties to
regulate the use of non-aerial common fireworks through the
issuance of certificates of use.

     Your Committee received testimony on this bill from the
Honolulu Fire Department, the American Lung Association, Hawaii
Explosives & Pyrotechnics, Inc. and several concerned
individuals.

     Your Committee finds that the enactment of the present
statutory provisions had preempted the county governments from
regulating fireworks.  In light of the widespread and increased
use of fireworks in recent years, your Committee finds that
permitting the counties to further regulate the use of fireworks
through the issuance of certificates of use is prudent and
reasonable.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by inserting:
     
     1.   Five calendar days as the minimum number of days before
          the designated use of fireworks for the issuance of
          certificates of use;


 
 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 536________
                                 Page 2

 
     2.   Five dollars as the maximum fee per certificate of use
          that may be assessed to cover administrative costs; and

     3.   1,800 single units as the minimum amount of non-aerial
          common fireworks allowed per certificate of use.

     Your Committee further amended this bill by inserting a
provision to make it unlawful to possess aerial common fireworks
unless the person has a valid permit issued by that county.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to
this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and
purpose of H.B. No. 1237, as amended herein, and recommends that
it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No.
1237, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Judiciary &
                                   Hawaiian Affairs,



                                   ______________________________
                                   PAUL T. OSHIRO, Chair