STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2127

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2184

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Intergovernmental and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2184 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FIREWORKS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to clarify the counties' authority to enact fireworks ordinances or adopt rules regulating fireworks.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the State Fire Council; Hawaii County Mayor; Hawaii County Fire Department; and Hawaii Fire Fighters Association.  Testimony in opposition was received from the Legislative Information Services of Hawaii.

     Existing law prohibits the counties from enacting fireworks ordinances or adopting rules regulating fireworks that are inconsistent with or more restrictive than the requirements of state law.  This measure allows the counties to enact ordinances regulating fireworks and articles pyrotechnic that are more restrictive than state law.

     The intent of this measure is to provide individual counties with the authority to assess the impact of fireworks in their respective county and to adopt laws appropriate to their needs.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Intergovernmental and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2184 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Labor.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Intergovernmental and Military Affairs,

____________________________

LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair