THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	169
TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2011
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to cargo inspections.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that over ninety per cent of the more than two hundred thousand shipping cargo containers that arrive in Hawaii each year are from the continental United States.  Only a small fraction of these containers, however, are inspected by government agencies.  Shipping companies conduct random checks of less than five per cent of incoming cargo containers, and these inspections are mainly conducted to ensure that senders of cargo have been properly charged.  This lack of sufficient cargo inspections means that there is ample opportunity for illegal fireworks and explosives to be smuggled into the State.

     The legislature further finds that increased inspections need to be carefully crafted to avoid delays and inefficiencies in harbor operations that could impede commerce.  One approach is to use dogs to inspect cargo after they have been collected by businesses, transported from the harbors, and unloaded off-site.

     The purpose of this Act is to increase random inspections of incoming cargo for illegal fireworks and explosives by establishing a pilot program using dogs to inspect cargo shipments after they have been transported from the harbors.

     SECTION 2.  (a)  The departments of defense and transportation, in consultation with federal and state agencies and private organizations involved with shipping cargo into the State, shall develop and implement a three-year pilot program to use dogs to inspect incoming cargo for illegal fireworks and explosives smuggled into the State.  The program shall begin no later than January 31, 2012.

     (b)  The pilot program shall include the use of dogs to inspect incoming cargo that, after arrival into the State, has been transported from any shipping port to off-site facilities that include:

     (1)  Freight forwarder warehouses and other facilities where consolidated cargo transported from any shipping port is segregated and prepared for delivery; and

     (2)  Other commercial facilities where cargo containers transported from any shipping port are unloaded.

     SECTION 3.  No later than twenty days prior to the convening of the 2013 regular session, the department of transportation shall submit to the legislature a report on the implementation of the pilot program established pursuant to this Act.  The report shall include findings and recommendations, including costs expended to date, the estimated cost of operating the program on a permanent basis, and any proposed legislation.

     SECTION 4.  There is appropriated out of the federal funds received under the homeland security grant program the sum of $         or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2011-2012 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2012-2013 to establish and administer the pilot program established by this Act.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of transportation for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2011, and shall be repealed on June 30, 2014.

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Cargo Inspections; Pilot Program; Fireworks; Explosives

Description:

Establishes a pilot program to use dogs to inspect incoming cargo for illegal fireworks and explosives, after the cargo has been transported from the harbors.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.