STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2721

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 3072

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Health and Energy and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 3072 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII EMERGENCY PLANNING AND COMMUNITY RIGHT-TO-KNOW ACT,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to protect and preserve the health and safety of the residents and environment of Hawaii.

     Specifically, this measure clarifies the reporting requirements for "hazardous substances" and "extremely hazardous substances" by separating the different reporting requirements for "hazardous substances" and "extremely hazardous substances" to ensure that businesses file the required chemical inventory reports for "extremely hazardous substances" and pay the filing fee for reporting such substances.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, the City and County of Honolulu Local Emergency Planning Committee, and the Campbell Local Emergency Action Network.

     Your Committees find that this is an important measure that will enhance the safety of our communities and allow emergency responders to better prepare and respond to emergencies involving hazardous chemicals.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Energy and Environment that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3072 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Health and Energy and Environment,

____________________________ RON MENOR, Chair

____________________________ DAVID Y. IGE, Chair