STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2743

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2302

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2302 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DARK SKIES PROTECTION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish a Dark Skies Protection Advisory Committee to assist the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism in developing a dark skies protection strategy.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; University of Hawaii system; Department of Land and Natural Resources; and one individual.

     Your Committee finds that light pollution is caused by inappropriate uses of exterior lighting at night, including over-illumination, excessive use of artificial light, use of fixtures that direct light upward, causing glare and sky glow, and use of fixtures that have excessive amounts of blue light, which is scattered by the atmosphere to cause sky glow.  Your Committee also finds that light pollution interferes with dark night sky activities and the nighttime activities of certain animal and insect species.  Your Committee further finds that nighttime illumination of state airports, harbors, highways, and other facilities is costly and consumes large amounts of energy.  Your Committee believes that application of new lighting technologies could produce substantial energy and cost savings.  Your Committee therefore finds that this measure is an important step toward better protection of Hawaii's dark night skies, the environment, and state fiscal resources.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by inserting a repeal date of June 30, 2021.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2302, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2302, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair