STAND. COM. REP. NO.  458

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

RE:   H.B. No. 1538

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Health and Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 1538 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTALLY-SENSITIVE PRODUCTS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to ensure the health and safety of public school students by:

(1)  Requiring the Department of Education (DOE) to use environmentally-sensitive cleaning and maintenance products (Products);

(2)  Directing the Department of Health (DOH) to establish guidelines and specifications for the Products; and

(3)  Requiring the State Procurement Office (SPO) to maintain a list of vendors where Products are available.

     DOE, several students from Moanalua High School and Kawaiaha‘o School, and several concerned individuals supported this bill.  DOH and SPO opposed this measure.  The American Chemistry Council and Consumer Specialty Products Association submitted comments.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Education that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1538 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Health and Education,

____________________________ ROY TAKUMI, Chair

____________________________ RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair