STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1481

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 427

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 427, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to preserve dark night skies in Hawaii by establishing a dark night skies protection advisory committee.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Department of Land and Natural Resources; Office of Hawaiian Affairs; University of Hawaii; Office of the Mayor, County of Hawaii; Conservation Council for Hawaii; and one individual.

     Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Transportation.

     Your Committee finds that dark night skies hold important cultural, scientific, astronomical, natural, landscape, and tourism related value.  Your Committee further finds that the preservation of Hawaii's dark night skies is essential to the well-being of the State.  Your Committee believes that a dark night skies protection advisory committee is necessary to develop a statewide coordinated strategy to preserve the State's dark night skies.

Your Committee notes that the advisory committee's dissolution date is June 30, 2027, but that the advisory committee is only required to submit reports to the Legislature until the 2021 Regular Session.  This issue may need to be addressed if a Conference Committee is convened for this measure.

     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 H.B. No. 427, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair