STAND. COM. REP. NO.  51-16

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2016

RE:   H.B. No. 1507

      H.D. 2

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 1507, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish a working group to study methods to reduce the use of all disposable bags.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs and Times Supermarket testified in support of this measure.  The Chamber of Commerce Hawaii and the Hawaii Food Industry Association testified in support of this measure with amendments.  The Department of Health testified in opposition to this measure.

     Your Committee amended this measure by:

     (1)  Adding representatives of the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii and the Hawaii Food Industry Association as members of the working group;

     (2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2112, to encourage further discussion; and

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

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1507, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1507, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

____________________________

ANGUS L.K. McKELVEY, Chair