STAND. COM. REP. NO. 391-18

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2018

RE: H.B. No. 2107

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 2107 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Establish the Plastic Free Hawaii Initiative Program with the mission of eliminating plastic waste impacting native species and polluting the State's environment;

(2) Establish the Plastic Free Hawaii Advisory Council to collect data regarding plastic pollution and provide recommendations and assistance to eliminate plastic waste; and

(3) Appropriate funds to establish the Plastic Free Hawaii Initiative Program and to conduct an initial analysis of the baseline cost of plastic pollution to Hawaii's taxpayers and environment.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources, Sierra Club of Hawaii, Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Cuddle Party, Life of the Land, Surfrider Foundation Oahu Chapter, Kokua Hawaii Foundation, and several individuals supported this measure. A concerned individual opposed this measure. The American Chemistry Council provided comments.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the name of the Plastic Free Hawaii Initiative Program and Plastic Free Hawaii Advisory Council to the Plastic Pollution Initiative Program and Plastic Pollution Advisory Council, respectively;

(2) Requiring the Plastic Pollution Advisory Council to include in its report to the Legislature findings or recommendations to eliminate plastic waste polluting Hawaii's environment;

(3) Inserting an appropriation amount of $50,000; and

(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity and consistency.

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. 2107, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2107, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair