STAND. COM. REP. NO.  756-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.B. No. 2887

      H.D. 2

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 2887, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TATTOOING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to exempt persons deemed by the Department of Health (DOH) to be "kahuna ka kakau," or experts in traditional Hawaiian tattooing, from laws licensing and regulating tattoo artists.

     A concerned individual testified in support of this bill.  DOH supported this measure with reservations.

     This bill acknowledges traditional Hawaiian culture and arts by removing licensing and other regulatory restrictions on traditional Hawaiian tattooing.  However, this bill would allow kahuna ka kakau to use procedures, equipment, and dyes that are inconsistent with health standards, and consequently raises safety issues that warrant further consideration.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this bill by changing its effective date to January 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2887, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2887, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

____________________________

ROBERT N. HERKES, Chair