STAND. COM. REP. NO. 368-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 1903

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 Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1903 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DATA ABOUT SNORKELS AND MASKS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require first responders to record in the incident report for each water rescue event the type of snorkel and mask, if any, worn by the person who was rescued or recovered.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from numerous individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health and one individual.

Your Committee finds that the safety of visitors and residents in Hawaii's waters is of statewide concern. Requiring all counties to record standardized, empirical data about the type of snorkel and mask, if any, worn by persons who were rescued or recovered during water rescue events will help the State determine whether certain types of snorkels or masks lead to a higher risk of drowning.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting language that designated the measure as the "David Loasby Law";

(2) Changing the effective date to January 1, 2222, to encourage further discussion; and

(3) 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 Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1903, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1903, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

MARK M. NAKASHIMA, Chair