CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 173

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: S.B. No. 522

S.D. 2

H.D. 2

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sirs:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 522, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PLASTIC,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Create and appropriate funds for the activities of the plastic source reduction working group, including making recommendations for eliminating single-use plastic packaging; and

(2) Establish and appropriate funds for the Solid Waste Prevention Coordinator position in the Department of Health.

Your Committee on Conference finds that Hawaii's forests, streams, and beaches are strewn with plastic debris, including micro plastic debris smaller than grains of sand, which are consumed by the smallest of endangered birds to the humpback whale. Among other hazards, plastic debris attracts and concentrates ambient pollutants in seawater and freshwater, which can transfer to fish, other seafood, and salt that are eventually sold for human consumption. Your Committee on Conference further finds that cleaning up plastic is a significant cost to Hawaii taxpayers. Your Committee on Conference therefore finds that creating the plastic source reduction working group is a step in the right direction toward preventing plastic debris from entering the waste stream and protecting human health and natural resources.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Amending the duties of the working group;

(2) Amending the membership of the working group;

(3) Removing the appropriation of funds for the working group;

(4) Eliminating the creation of the Solid Waste Prevention Coordinator position and the appropriation of funds for the position;

(5) Amending section 1 to reflect its amended purpose;

(6) Making it effective on July 1, 2019; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 522, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 522, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ NICOLE E. LOWEN Co-Chair	____________________________ MIKE GABBARD Chair
____________________________ ANGUS L.K. MCKELVEY Co-Chair	____________________________ ROSALYN H. BAKER Co-Chair
____________________________ ROY M. TAKUMI Co-Chair	____________________________ KARL RHOADS Co-Chair
____________________________ CHRIS LEE Co-Chair	____________________________ GILBERT S.C. KEITH-AGARAN Co-Chair
____________________________ TY J.K. CULLEN Co-Chair