STAND. COM. REP. NO. 713-18

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2018

RE: H.B. No. 2625

H.D. 2

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. 2625, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require and appropriate funds to the Department of Land and Natural Resources (Department) to remove plastic marine debris from shores and beaches;

(2) Require and appropriate funds to the counties to dispose of plastic marine debris collected by the Department; and

(3) Require the Department to report to the Legislature prior to each Regular Session on the amount of plastic marine debris removed from the State's shores and beaches in the prior calendar year.

The Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Friends of Hanauma Bay, Sierra Club of Hawai‘i, Beach Environmental Awareness Campaign of Hawai‘i, Patients Without Time, Cuddle Party, GMO Free Kaua‘i, Kokua Hawaii Foundation, Hawaiian Civic Club of Honolulu, and several individuals supported this measure. The Department opposed this measure.

Your Committee has amended this measure by deleting its substantive contents and inserting language which:

(1) Requires the Department and the counties to form a Marine Debris Working Group, with other interested parties, to resolve jurisdictional issues between the State and counties regarding the removal of marine debris and provide coordination between state and county agencies that ensures the cleanup of marine debris from Hawaii's beaches and shorefronts; and

(2) Establishes a Marine Debris Special Fund to provide funding to the Department for the removal of marine debris from shorelines and nearshore waters.

Your Committee has further amended this measure by:

(1) Changing its effective date to January 28, 2045, to encourage further discussion; and

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

Should the Committee on Finance deliberate on this measure further, your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection respectfully requests that it consider appropriating $1,000,000 to be deposited into the Marine Debris Special Fund and used for the removal of marine debris from shorelines and nearshore waters.

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. 2625, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2625, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair