CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 84

Honolulu, Hawaii

                 , 2009

RE:    S.B. No. 536

       S.D. 1

       H.D. 1

       C.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Madam and Sir:

     Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 536, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO STARLIGHT RESERVE,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

     The purpose of this measure is to preserve the quality of Hawaii's night sky by reducing light pollution.  Specifically, this bill requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, with assistance from a temporary advisory committee, to develop a statewide starlight reserve strategy and intelligent lighting and light pollution law.

     Your Committee on Conference finds that the quality of the night sky in Hawaii is unique and is a valuable natural resource that needs to be protected.  Your Committee also finds that specific practices and safeguards are necessary to preserve the quality of the night sky in Hawaii for continued astronomical observation that is superior to the rest of the United States.  Your Committee further finds that the development and implementation of a starlight reserve strategy will help to prevent the night sky in Hawaii from light pollution.

     Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Clarifying that the temporary advisory committee is an advisory "working" committee;

     (2)  Changing the effective date to upon approval; and

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purpose of clarity.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 536, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 536, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ HERMINA MORITA, Co-Chair	____________________________ CAROL FUKUNAGA, Chair
____________________________ KEN ITO, Co-Chair
____________________________ DENNY COFFMAN, Co-Chair