STAND. COM. REP. NO. 258

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 1947

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Energy and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 1947 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION FOR THE DEPOSIT BEVERAGE CONTAINER PROGRAM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to make an emergency appropriation for the State's Deposit Beverage Container Program.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health.

     Your Committee finds that this measure provides sufficient moneys to meet the increased expenses of the Deposit Beverage Container Program by making an emergency appropriation.  Increased container numbers plus the current redemption rate of about sixty-eight per cent results in more deposits to refund and more redemption center handling fees.  Refunds and handling fees may exceed $52,000,000.  There are sufficient moneys in the Deposit Beverage Container Special Fund to support the proposed appropriation increase.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1947 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy and Environment,

____________________________

RON MENOR, Chair