STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1068-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   S.B. No. 2841

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred S.B. No. 2841 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE DEPOSIT BEVERAGE CONTAINER PROGRAM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to require all retail dealers of beverages in deposit beverage containers with more than 75,000 square feet of retail space to operate redemption centers effective October 1, 2008.

     The City and County of Honolulu Department of Environmental Services and Conservation Council for Hawaii testified in support of this bill.  The Department of Health, Sierra Club, Hawaii Chapter, and Hawaii Audubon Society supported this measure with amendments.  The Retail Merchants of Hawaii opposed this bill.  The Hawaii Food Industry Association provided comments.

     Your Committee finds that retail stores with more than 75,000 square feet of interior space will have sufficient flexibility in the placement of its redemption center operation without undue interference with its overall operation. 

     With respect to health concerns raised by dealers required to operate a redemption center, your Committee finds that other jurisdictions with similar redemption center requirements have not encountered health issues that endanger the public health or safety.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2841 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,

____________________________

HERMINA MORITA, Chair