STAND. COM. REP. NO. 129

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: H.B. No. 680

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, Human Services, & Homelessness, to which was referred H.B. No. 680 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HUMAN REMAINS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to include the use of traditional Hawaiian burial practices in the treatment and disposal of human remains, including the use of alkaline hydrolysis, water cremation, and natural organic reduction.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Aloha Mortuary; Fisher & Associates Consulting, LLC; and ten individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from Hawaii Funeral & Cemetery Association, Inc.

Your Committee finds that traditional Hawaiian burial practices play a critical role in Hawaiian culture and are a cost effective and environmentally friendly alternative to modern treatments of human remains.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2060, 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 Health, Human Services, & Homelessness that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 680, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 680, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health, Human Services, & Homelessness,

____________________________

RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair