STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2785
Honolulu, Hawaii
RE: S.B. No. 2326
S.D. 1
Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi
President of the Senate
Thirtieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2020
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 2326 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MICROBEADS,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose and intent of this measure is to phase in a prohibition on the manufacture and sale in Hawaii of certain personal care products and non-prescription drugs that contain synthetic plastic microbeads.
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Conservation Council for Hawaii, WAI: Wastewater Alternatives and Innovations, and four individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Personal Care Products Council and Beach Environmental Awareness Campaign Hawai‘i. Your Committee received comments from the Department of Health.
Your Committee finds that synthetic plastic microbeads pose a serious threat to the natural environment. Synthetic plastic microbeads are an ingredient in many personal care products and are used for exfoliating dead skin cells. Sewage waste treatment facilities are unable to filter synthetic plastic microbeads out of wastewater because of their small size, and as a result, synthetic plastic microbeads are often discharged into the ocean along with the treated wastewater. Marine life can easily swallow the synthetic plastic microbeads, potentially causing injury and even death. Your Committee finds that the State has an interest in protecting its natural environment and decreasing the amount of plastic waste flowing into its waters. This measure protects Hawaii's ocean environment by phasing out the manufacturing and sale of certain personal products that contain synthetic plastic microbeads in the State.
Your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Deleting language that would have provided civil penalties for violations;
(2) Deleting the definition of "non-prescription drug", given that it is defined elsewhere in chapter 328, Hawaii Revised Statutes; and
(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments
for the purposes of clarity and consistency.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2326, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2326, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture and Environment,
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________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair |
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