STAND. COM. REP. NO. 244-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 1696

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. 1696 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FIREWORKS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to increase the fireworks display permit fee.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Fire Council, Hawaii Fire Department, Honolulu Fire Department, Maui Fire Department, Pearl City Neighborhood Board No. 21, Poi Dogs & Popoki, and four individuals.

Your Committee finds that the display permit fee, which authorizes licensed pyrotechnicians to conduct outdoor and close proximity fireworks for public or private events or for theatrical or movie purposes, has remained the same for fifteen years. However, the costs of processing, reviewing, and approving display permits have increased. This measure will ensure the effective administration of the permitting process by increasing the permit fee. Increasing fireworks permit fees may also serve as a deterrent against the use of illegal fireworks.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the permit fees for consumer, display, and cultural use fireworks to unspecified amounts;

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

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

Your Committee notes that the existing statutory amounts for permit fees is $25 for consumer and cultural use fireworks and $110 for display fireworks. Your Committee heard testimony on this measure that the existing statutory fees and the increased fees originally proposed by this measure were too low. One suggestion was to increase the permit fee to $1,000, to provide more resources for inspection, and the consumer fireworks permit fee to $100, to provide more resource for enforcement of violations. Should your Committee on Finance choose to deliberate on this measure, your Committee respectfully requests that it consider determining appropriate fireworks permit fee amounts.

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. 1696, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1696, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

AARON LING JOHANSON, Chair