Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 2013 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to phase out the use of polybrominated dipheral ether (PBDE) by banning the manufacture, processing or distribution of any product or flame retarded part of a product containing more than one-tenth of one percent of octabrominated dipheral ether and pentabrominated dipheral ether, effective January 1, 2008.

The Representative from the 19^th House district and Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies testified in support of this bill. Bromide Science and Environmental Forum opposed this bill.

Your Committee has learned that PBDE has been found in increasingly higher amounts in the breast milk of American mothers. Laboratory studies indicate that PBDE causes cognitive and behavioral changes during development and increases cancer rates.

While concern has been raised about the potential impact of reduced use of flame retardants, your Committee has been informed that numerous alternatives are available that are safe, do not negatively affect human health, and comply with the strictest of fire safety standards.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2013 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce.