STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3656

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2107

H.D. 2

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2107, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish within the Department of Land and Natural Resources a plastic pollution initiative that includes a Plastic Pollution Advisory Council.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawaii Reef and Ocean Coalition, Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai`i, and five individuals.

Written comments in opposition were received from two individuals.

The American Chemistry Council submitted written comments on the measure.

Your Committee finds that plastic pollution is an ever-increasing threat to the State's environment and this measure provides a step towards mitigating this threat.

Your Committee notes the concern raised by the American Chemistry Council in its written comments on this measure with respect to expanding the membership of the Plastic Pollution Advisory Council to include representatives from other industry sectors. Your Committee respectfully requests that this concern be considered as the measure moves forward in the legislative process.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying the membership of the Plastic Pollution Advisory Council with regard to the representatives from each county and the Hawaii Tourism Authority;

(2) Changing the appropriation from $150,000 to an unspecified amount;

(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

(4) Making technical nonsubstantive changes for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

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. 2107, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2107, H.D. 2, S.D. 2.

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

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair