STAND. COM. REP. NO. 941

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 180

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 180, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DEPOSIT BEVERAGE CONTAINERS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to facilitate recycling of deposit beverage containers.

More specifically, this measure:

(1) Exempts, from the requirement that a dealer operate a deposit beverage redemption center, any beverage dealer located in a high-density population area and within one mile, rather than two miles, of a certified deposit beverage redemption center operated independently from the dealer;

(2) Requires that the Department of Health adjust the deposit beverage handling fee at least once per year and publish notice of the change within a certain period of time; and

(3) Establishes additional criteria for adjusting the deposit beverage handling fee.

Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from the American Beverage Association and Hawaii Food Industry Association.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Health and Tax Foundation of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that this measure will provide residents of the State with more options for recycling deposit beverage containers, thus benefiting both the residents and the natural environment.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 180, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair