STAND. COM. REP. NO. 917-22

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 Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 1689, H.D. 1, 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 State Fire Council, Maui Fire Department, Honolulu Fire Department, Pearl City Neighborhood Board No. 21, Hawaiian Humane Society, Animal Rights Hawai‘i, Aloha Animal Advocates, and five 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 igniting of fireworks and articles pyrotechnics in violation of the Fireworks Control Law has been and continues to be an issue in communities throughout the State. The ignition of fireworks and articles pyrotechnics pose various health, safety, and property risks, including potential fire damage to homes, fire and explosion-related injuries, respiratory distress caused by the air pollution, and retraumatizing persons with the loud explosions.

Your Committee further finds that further mechanisms are necessary to enforce the Fireworks Control Law. This measure will empower counties in their enforcement by increasing their ability to scrutinize the multimodal transportation of fireworks. As this measure advances through the legislative process, your Committee believes that consideration should be given to using the point of delivery as the point of inspection, as the point of delivery may be the more optimal opportunity for inspections of vessels.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1689, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

____________________________

AARON LING JOHANSON, Chair