STAND. COM. REP. NO. 813

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 1042

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1042, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to mitigate the sources of artificial light at airports, harbors, and highways to prevent interference with astronomical observations through the telescopes at Hawaii's astronomical observatories.

     Specifically, this measure requires the Department of Transportation, to the extent that is practical, to comply with county ordinances and standards relating to outside lighting for all new installations at airports, harbors, and highways, provided that they do not conflict with federal safety regulations.

     Your Committee received comments in support of this measure from the County Council of Maui and Institute of Astronomy of the University of Hawaii at Manoa.  The Department of Transportation offered comments.

     Your Committee believes that this measure will reduce sources of bright light at night that interfere with astronomical observations made through telescopes at various astronomical observatories in the State.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1042, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair