STAND. COM. REP. NO. 348

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: H.B. No. 1097

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Public Safety, Veterans, & Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1097 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FIREWORKS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to increase public safety by:

(1) Prohibiting any person from setting off, igniting, discharging, or otherwise causing to explode any fireworks or articles pyrotechnic from any public highway, alley, street, sidewalk, or other public way and imposing penalties; and

(2) Requiring a person who causes property damage or bodily injury due to the unlawful use of fireworks or articles pyrotechnic to be responsible for damages and compensation.

The Honolulu Police Department, Poi Dogs & Popoki, and many concerned individuals supported this measure. The Hawaii State Fire Council, Honolulu Fire Department, Hawaii Explosives & Pyrotechnics, Inc., and Ho‘omanapono Political Action Committee offered comments.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that the ignition of fireworks from any public way is prohibited without a permit issued under section 132D-10, Hawaii Revised Statutes;

(2) Clarifying monetary penalties and repeat offender criteria; and

(3) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion on this measure.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety, Veterans, & Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1097, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1097, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety, Veterans, & Military Affairs,

____________________________

GREGG TAKAYAMA, Chair