STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1407

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 501

H.D. 2

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs and Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism, to which was referred H.B. No. 501, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FIREWORKS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to clarify that the use of fireworks by permit for movie, television, and theatrical productions and the removal of pyrotechnic material from or ignition, setting off, discharge, or explosion of fireworks by law enforcement to test, dispose of, or destroy illegal fireworks do not violate state prohibitions.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Hawaii State Fire Council; City and County of Honolulu Fire Department; City and County of Honolulu Police Department; County of Maui Fire Department; County of Kaua‘i Fire Department; one member of the City and County of Honolulu City Council; Honolulu Film Office; and American Promotional Events, Inc.

Your Committees find that it is reasonable to allow the use of fireworks for movie, television, and theatrical productions and to authorize law enforcement agencies to take necessary steps to test, dispose of, or destroy seized or impounded illegal fireworks.

Your Committees further find that some pyrotechnic activities and filming occur on non-state-owned jurisdictions, such as on private and federal lands. Your Committees therefore find that authorizing the authority having jurisdiction, instead of only the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, to approve permits for the purchase and use of consumer fireworks, aerial devices, display fireworks, or articles pyrotechnic in movie and television productions, would make the permitting process more efficient and support the intent to create a consistent method for permitting these types of fireworks, regardless of jurisdiction over permit approval.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Allowing the authority having jurisdiction over permit approvals to approve the purchase and use of consumer fireworks, aerial devices, display fireworks, or articles pyrotechnic for use in a movie or television production; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs and Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 501, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 501, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs and Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism,

________________________________ GLENN WAKAI, Chair

________________________________ CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair