Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1833, H.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to allow counties more flexibility in processing fireworks permits by authorizing the counties to appoint designees to issue fireworks permits, provided that the authorized designees do not issue fireworks permits and sell fireworks from the same location.

The Honolulu Police Department, THY & Associates, Inc., Pinky's 5 Eight, T. Kaneshiro Store, Inc., Pahoa Cash & Carry, and Puna Fresh Food testified in support of this bill. The County of Hawaii Fire Department (HCFD) supported this measure with amendments.

Concerns were raised by HCFD that restricting the sale of permits to vendors who do not sell fireworks will limit the public's ease and access to obtaining fireworks permits, especially on the Neighbor Islands.

Your Committee understands that a one-stop-shop concept may be a more convenient means of obtaining a fireworks permit, especially for rural communities that may only have one fireworks retailer and no other retailer willing to participate in fireworks permit sales, and finds that this concept deserves further discussion.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1833, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.