STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1897-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.R. No. 161

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Economic Development & Business Concerns, to which was referred H.R. No. 161 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE PROGRAM TO ENCOURAGE COMMUNITIES AND BUSINESSES TO CONVERT TO EXPANDED POLYSTYRENE FOAM ALTERNATIVE PRODUCTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this resolution is to encourage the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to establish a voluntary compliance program to encourage communities and businesses to convert to products other than polystyrene foam.

     Sustainable Island Products, Hawaiian Earth Products, Styrophobia.com, Sierra Club Oahu Group, and several concerned individuals supported this measure.  The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, American Chemistry Council, Windward Ahupuaa Alliance, and Hawaii Foam Products submitted testimony in opposition to this measure.  The University of Hawaii Environmental Center and Hawaii Food Industry Association offered comments.

     Your Committee recognizes the threat that nonbiodegradable polystyrene foam poses to Hawaii's fragile environment.  However, at the same time your Committee notes that polystyrene foam is currently the most economical option for Hawaii's businesses and that a resolution requesting the establishment of a voluntary program is likely to have little effect on Hawaii's polystyrene foam use.

     Accordingly, your Committee has amended this resolution by:

     (1)  Changing its title to read:  "REQUESTING THAT THE LEGISLATIVE REFERENCE BUREAU CONDUCT A FEASIBILITY STUDY ON THE USE OF POLYSTYRENE FOAM ALTERNATIVE PRODUCTS IN HAWAII;" and

     (2)  Requesting the Legislative Reference Bureau to conduct a study on the feasibility of using polystyrene foam alternative products in Hawaii, including the economic impact that use of these products would have on Hawaii, and Hawaii's potential as a manufacturer of these products.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Economic Development & Business Concerns that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 161, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.R. No. 161, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Economic Development & Business Concerns,

____________________________

KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair