CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 69

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: S.B. No. 348

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

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. 348, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO BOTTLED WATER,"

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) Update existing law to require bottled water to meet standards prescribed by the United States Food and Drug Administration regarding product quality standards for bottled water; and

(2) Repeal the requirement that noncarbonated bottled water be transported, stored, processed, or bottled in or through lines or equipment through which only water is passed.

Your Committee on Conference finds that existing state law expressly prohibits carbonated soft drink, juice, and beer operations from using the same equipment to can noncarbonated bottled water. Hawaii bottled water manufacturers are required to comply with an outdated rule that results in unfair and costly limits for local beverage filling companies that manufacture other products from providing noncarbonated water to consumers in aluminum cans as an alternative to single-use plastic water bottles. Lifting this constraint would allow beverage companies in the State to expand their businesses by putting still water in aluminum cans thereby meeting the growing demand for water in sustainable packaging while continuing to invest in the local economy.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by making it effective upon its approval.

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. 348, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 348, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, 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 Co-Chair
____________________________ AARON LING JOHANSON Co-Chair	____________________________ ROSALYN H. BAKER Co-Chair
____________________________ TY J.K. CULLEN Co-Chair