STAND. COM. REP. NO. 36

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: H.B. No. 762

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 Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 762 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SINGLE-USE PLASTIC STRAWS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to prohibit a full-service restaurant from providing a single-use plastic straw to a consumer unless requested by the consumer, beginning on January 1, 2020.

The Hawaii Food Industry Association, Hawaii Restaurant Association, Ocean Tourism Coalition, American Chemistry Council, KYD, Inc., Pono Advocacy, Native Ecosystem Services LLC, O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, Surfrider Foundation, Kaiser High School Wipeout Crew, and many individuals supported this measure. The Retail Merchants of Hawaii supported the intent of this measure. An individual opposed this measure. The Department of Health provided comments.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Removing the provision prohibiting counties from enacting an ordinance, rule, or regulation regulating single-use plastic straws; and

(2) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2100, to encourage further discussion.

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. 762, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 762, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

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

____________________________

NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair