STAND. COM. REP. NO. 635

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 1059

       S.D. 2

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Government Operations, to which was referred S.B. No. 1059, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FIREWORKS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to establish an illegal fireworks task force to develop a plan and make recommendations to the Legislature to stop the importation of illegal fireworks and explosives into Hawaii.

     Your Committee finds that this measure will organize various agencies to work collaboratively on solutions to better enforce the growing distribution and use of illegal fireworks in our communities.  Each year, the use of illegal fireworks, namely aerials by unlicensed, nonprofessional persons, continues to increase.  These illegal fireworks pose a fire and life safety risk and danger to the public.  Enhanced enforcement strategies among state, county, and federal agencies are essential to address the problem.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to continue the discussions; and

(2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Government Operations that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1059, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1059, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary and Government Operations,

____________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair