STAND. COM. REP. NO. 299-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 1689

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 1689 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FIREWORKS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require shippers with knowledge that their cargo includes fireworks or articles pyrotechnic to report certain information to applicable county fire departments; and

(2) Authorize county fire departments to enter shippers' vessels for the purpose of inspecting any shipment declared on the shipping manifest as fireworks or articles pyrotechnic.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Fire Council, Maui Fire Department, Honolulu Fire Department, Hawai‘i Fire Department, Hawaiian Humane Society, Village Park Community Association, and two individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Matson Navigation Company, Inc.

Your Committee finds that the transportation of fireworks to, from, and within the State requires the use of multiple modes or methods of transport, including interstate maritime transportation and intrastate trucking. Due to the diversity of transportation processes and modes and the health and safety of first responders, it is essential that accurate records are made and reported regarding imported fireworks shipments. This measure ensures an additional level of safety and security for the people of the State by providing comprehensive tracking of all shipments of fireworks imported into and within the State.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1689, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1689, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation,

____________________________

HENRY J.C. AQUINO, Chair