STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1564

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2011

RE:   S.B. No. 1493

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 3

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 1493, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LIGHT POLLUTION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to preserve the quality of the night sky and its associated cultural, scientific, astronomical, natural, and landscape-related values and provide an environmentally friendly strategy for the lighting of Hawaii.  Specifically, this measure requires the establishment of a starlight reserve strategy by, among other things:

     (1)  Requiring that every new and replacement outdoor lighting fixture use full cut-off lens fixtures to direct the lighting downward, with certain exceptions; and

     (2)  Providing for acceptable alternative lighting sources when fully shielded fixtures are not practical.

     The University of Hawaii System, Subaru Telescope, and several concerned individuals testified in support of this bill.  The Department of Accounting and General Services and Department of Transportation testified in opposition to this measure.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources; Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; the City and County of Honolulu Department of Design and Construction; the County of Kauai Department of Parks and Recreation; Starlight Reserve Committee; Alexander & Baldwin, Inc.; Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Company; Building Industry Association of Hawaii; Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation; and several concerned individuals offered comments.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Providing an additional exemption from the use of full cut-off lighting fixtures to temporary outdoor lighting used for night-time agricultural operation; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1493, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1493, S.D. 1, H.D. 3.

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

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair