STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1034

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   H.B. No. 1172

      H.D. 2

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 1172, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FIREWORKS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to increase public safety by:

     (1)  Clarifying that statements, photographs, video, and other recordings can be used to establish probable cause for the arrest of offenders of Hawaii's fireworks law; and

     (2)  Providing that property owners who knowingly allow an individual to possess or set off aerial device fireworks on their property are in violation of the Fireworks Control Law and are subject to penalties.

The Hawaii State Fire Council, Maui Fire Department, Poi Dogs & Popoki, and many individuals supported this measure.  Two individuals opposed this measure.  The Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu, Councilmember representing District 1 of the Honolulu City Council, and two individuals commented on this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1172, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1172, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

SCOTT Y. NISHIMOTO, Chair