STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1122

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 450

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Higher Education, Agriculture and Environment, and Water and Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 450, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CORAL,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to the University of Hawaii to study the effects of sunscreen on coral reefs in Hawaii waters and submit reports to the Legislature.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawai‘i System, Department of Health, Humane Society of the United States, For the Fishes, and nine individuals.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Office of the Mayor of the County of Hawai‘i.

     Your Committees find that coral reefs in Hawaii waters are increasingly exposed to impacts from human use and in some places are degrading as a result.  Studies from around the world have highlighted the detrimental impact of chemicals in sunscreen products on coral health and reproduction.  Your Committees further find that no studies have been conducted to explore the impact of sunscreen products on Hawaiian coral reefs that see heavy tourist traffic and measurable concentrations of sunscreen chemicals.  This measure will allocate resources to the University of Hawaii to study and report on the effects of sunscreen used by ocean users on coral reefs located in Hawaii waters and make recommendations, if necessary, for mitigating these impacts.

     Your Committees note that the appropriation in this measure is blank.  Your Committees have requested the University of Hawaii to provide your Committees with an estimated cost to study the effects of sunscreen on coral reefs in Hawaii waters.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

     (1)  Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2017; and

     (2)  Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Higher Education, Agriculture and Environment, and Water and Land that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 450, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 450, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Higher Education, Agriculture and Environment, and Water and Land,

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair	________________________________ KAIALI'I KAHELE, Chair
	________________________________ KARL RHOADS, Chair