STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3844

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1903

H.D. 1

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 1903, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent 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 Mālama Pūpūkea-Waimea, Maui Adventure Group Inc., Friends of Hanauma Bay, and forty-six individuals.

Your Committee finds that full-face masks may pose a greater risk of drowning than traditional two-piece masks and snorkels. Furthermore, often, in the moment of an in-water emergency, whatever mask a victim was wearing is tossed aside as resuscitation measures are taking place and there is no documentation of gear type. This lack of data hinders the State's ability to accurately evaluate the dangers different types of snorkels and masks pose. This measure will allow the State to assess the risk of certain equipment and ultimately take action to inform and protect the thousands of people who snorkel throughout Hawai‘i each day by requiring 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 has amended this measure by making it effective upon its approval.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1903, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1903, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

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

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KARL RHOADS, Chair