STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3390

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2720

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2720, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PROCUREMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to prohibit state agencies from purchasing beverages in plastic bottles or rigid plastic containers, subject to limited exceptions.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Health, Department of Education, and six individuals.

Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from the American Chemistry Council, Hawaii Food Industry Association, and American Beverage Association.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services and State Procurement Office.

Your Committee finds that debris from plastic bottles and other plastic sources degrade land and ocean-based habitats and negatively impact wildlife in many ways. This measure will help to reduce the consumption of plastic bottles, the expenditure of energy resources to produce those bottles, and the volume of plastic waste that inadvertently enters the natural environment.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Removing the exceptions under which plastic bottles or rigid plastic containers may be purchased by state agencies;

(2) Clarifying that moneys from revolving funds and trust accounts shall be included among the moneys that shall not be expended to purchase beverages in plastic bottles or rigid plastic containers;

(3) Making a conforming amendment to the title of part III of Chapter 342H, Hawaii Revised Statutes;

(4) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

(5) Making technical nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2720, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2720, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair