STAND. COM. REP. NO. 151

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 553

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Energy and Environment and Judiciary and Government Operations, to which was referred S.B. No. 553 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENERGY-EFFICIENT LIGHTING,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to require the use of compact fluorescent light bulbs, light-emitting diode lighting products, and advanced energy-efficient incandescent light bulbs in state buildings and to require the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to undertake a public education campaign to promote private use of compact fluorescent light bulbs and light-emitting diode lighting products.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by one state department and two private organizations.  Testimony in support of the intent of this measure was submitted by two state departments.  Testimony in opposition was submitted by one state department and one private individual.  Written testimony presented to the Committees may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

     In particular, the Department of Public Safety submitted testimony expressing concern that the obligation to use energy efficient light bulbs could threaten the security at the Department's correctional facilities.  The Department of Public Safety requested an exemption from this requirement based on these public safety concerns.  Additionally, the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism expressed concerns the public awareness campaign required under this measure, given its limited budget resources.

     Your Committees find that switching to energy efficient lighting in public buildings could result in significant savings in electricity costs, in addition to being good for the environment.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

     (1)  Exempting the Department of Public Safety and other facilities that require non-qualifying light bulbs for public safety reasons from switching to energy efficient lighting; and

     (2)  Deleting section 3 of the proposed measure, which would have required the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism from conducting a public awareness campaign regarding energy efficient lighting due to budget concerns.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy and Environment and Judiciary and Government Operations that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 553, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 553, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Energy and Environment and Judiciary and Government Operations,

____________________________ BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair

____________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair