STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1343

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   S.B. No. 1150

      S.D. 2

      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 Ocean, Marine Resources, & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 1150, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PRESERVING CORAL REEFS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

     (1)  Prohibit the use or application of non-prescription sunscreen, sunblock, or cosmetics containing oxybenzone or other chemicals harmful to coral reefs in marine life conservation districts and prohibits the sale of such sunscreen, sunblock, or cosmetics by concessionaires serving marine conservation districts and nature preserves;

     (2)  Require commercial use permittees operating in marine life conservation districts to inform their customers of the prohibition; and

     (3)  Allow the Department to propose rules prohibiting the use of sunscreen, sunblock, or cosmetics containing oxybenzone in any area as needed to conserve marine resources.

The Office of the Mayor of the County of Hawaii, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Conservation Council for Hawai‘i, Environmental Caucus of the Hawaii Mermaid Adventures, Democratic Party of Hawaii, Kewalo Marine Laboratory at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, For the Fishes, Quest Global Management/Dolphin Quest, The Nature Conservancy, Animal Rights Hawaii, Stream2Sea, Friends of Hanauma Bay, All Good, Napili Bay and Beach Foundation, Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society International, Green Party of Maui County, Haereticus Environmental Laboratory, University of Central Florida, Department of Zoology at Tel Aviv University, Institute of Geophysics at the University of Tehran, Spanish National Research Council, Environmental Biotechnology Lab at the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, SEA LIFE TRUST, EKW Research Development, Sierra Club of Hawaii, Progressive Democrats of Hawaii, and numerous individuals testified in support of this measure.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources, The Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, Personal Care Products Council, Retail Merchants of Hawaii, Consumer Healthcare Products Association, Ocean Tourism Coalition, Quicksilver Charters, and American Chemistry Council testified in opposition to this measure.  The Department of Health, Mayor of the County of Hawaii, Democratic Party of Hawaii, Hawaii Food Industry Association, MJRiskEnvironmental Ltd., University of South Florida, Hawaiian Paddle Sports, Maui Kayak Adventures, Maui Marketing, Maui Stand Up Paddle Boarding, Maui Surf Lessons, Valley Isle Excursions, and several individuals commented on this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing its effective date, to encourage further discussion.  Technical amendments were also made for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ocean, Marine Resources, & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1150, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1150, S.D. 2, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ocean, Marine Resources, & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

KANIELA ING, Chair