STAND. COM. REP. NO.  74

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   H.B. No. 818

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 818 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO OXYBENZONE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to promote ocean health by requiring advertisements or displays for sunscreen containing oxybenzone in the State to include a conspicuously displayed statement stating that the use of oxybenzone in nearshore waters poses serious hazards to coral and reef health.  

The Hawaii Association for Behavior Analysis, Surfrider Foundation, and many individuals supported this measure.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources and Conservation Council for Hawaii supported the intent of this measure.  The Hawaii Food Industry Association, Consumer Healthcare Products Association, and a few individuals opposed this measure.  The Sierra Club of Hawaii, For the Fishes, and an individual provided comments.

     Your Committee notes that the Department of Land and Natural Resources is already conducting outreach that educates individuals on the dangers to coral reefs caused by sunscreen containing oxybenzone.  This measure seeks to complement the Department's efforts.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing the statement required on all advertisements or displays containing oxybenzone to read, "Product contains chemicals which may harm coral reefs."; and

     (2)  Changing the effective date to January 28, 2081, to encourage further discussion.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 818, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 818, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ocean, Marine Resources, & Hawaiian Affairs.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,

____________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair