STAND. COM. REP. NO.  652

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

RE:   H.C.R. No. 43

  H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 43 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO INVESTIGATE HAZARDS POSED BY POLYSTYRENE FOOD CONTAINERS AND TO ESTABLISH STANDARDS FOR BIODEGRADABLE PLASTIC FOOD CONTAINERS AND GROCERY BAGS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to request the Department of Health to study, report on, and create standards regarding polystyrene and polyethylene, which are used in grocery bags and food containers and may be hazardous.

     The Department of Health submitted testimony in opposition.  The Hawaii Food Industry Association supported this measure with amendments.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Expanding resolution title and language to include a study of possible beneficial uses for disposed polystyrene.

     (2)  Making technical, non-substantive changes for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 43, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce in the form attached hereto as pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 43, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,

____________________________

RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair