Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 698 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to streamline state regulatory requirements by repealing the Hawaii Environmental Disclosure Law found in chapter 343D, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

The Office of the Lieutenant Governor (LG) and the Office of Environmental Quality Control testified in support of this measure.

Chapter 343D was enacted in 1982 to alert the public of major corporate changes that might affect Hawaii's environment, land use, jobs, and economy. In the past 18 years, there have only been 12 filings.

Your Committee finds that this law is no longer needed. Further, there are more effective mechanisms to notify the public of proposed changes impacting the environment and land use, such as obtaining information from environmental impact statements, Land Use Commission proceedings, and county land use planning processes.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 698 and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance.