STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2594

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2933

       S.D. 2

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Affordable Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 2933, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOUSEHOLD ENERGY DEMAND,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to encourage Hawaii residents to use renewable energy alternatives and voluntarily reduce their use of fossil fuels by allowing the installation and use of clotheslines to dry clothes.

     Specifically, this measure adds a new section to chapter 196, Hawaii Revised Statutes, that:

     (1)  Allows a person to install and use a clothesline for the purpose of drying clothes on the premise of a single-family residential dwelling; and

     (2)  Provides reasonable restrictions on the location of the clothesline, including for the purposes of gaining access to buildings, providing for emergency access and evacuation, and screening the view of clothes and clotheslines from neighboring streets.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; the Sierra Club, Hawai‘i Chapter; the Windward Ahupua‘a Alliance; and one private individual.  Testimony in opposition to this measure was submitted by the Villages of Kapolei Association, the Mililani Town Association, and one private individual.  Princeville at Hanalei Community Association submitted comments.

     Electric clothes dryers can consume over ten per cent of a household's energy demand, which relies on fossil fuels to generate the electricity to power the clothes dryer.  The use of solar energy to dry clothes by installing and using a clothesline will encourage individuals to use renewable energy and assist in the reduction of Hawaii's dependency on fossil fuels.  Despite the benefits of using clotheslines, there are many homeowner associations that prohibit the use of a clothesline to dry clothes due to aesthetic reasons.  Your Committee finds that allowing a person to install and use a clothesline for the purpose of drying clothes on the premises of single-family residential dwelling regardless of a provision in a contract or agreement to the contrary will encourage the use of renewable energy alternatives to accomplish household tasks without contributing to a detrimental and costly effect on the environment and economy.

     Your Committee recognizes the various suggested amendments from homeowner associations that provide for further screening or fencing of the clothesline, and believes that this measure merits further discussion as it makes its way through the legislative process.

     Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing the effective date of this measure from upon its approval to July 1, 2050; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and style.

     Your Committee believes that this measure, as amended, fulfills the intent of this measure, which is to encourage Hawaii residents to use renewable energy alternatives and voluntarily reduce their use of fossil fuels.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Affordable Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2933, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2933, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Affordable Housing,

____________________________

RUSSELL S. KOKUBUN, Chair