STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1309-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.B. No. 2612

S.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 2612, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Establish and appropriate funds for a one-year reusable utensil pilot project at Department of Education schools on the island of Molokai; and

(2) Require the Department of Education to submit interim and final reports to the Legislature on the feasibility of statewide implementation of a reusable utensil program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Beach Environmental Awareness Campaign Hawaii and five individuals. Your Committee received testimony in support of the intent of this measure from the Department of Education. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that single-use plastics are a serious threat to Hawaii's environmental and economic sustainability. Your Committee further finds that the Department of Education contributes to Hawaii's annual plastic waste through its use of single-use plastic utensils in school cafeterias. This measure establishes a pilot project for Molokai's Department of Education schools to explore the use of reusable utensils in school cafeterias to reduce single-use plastic waste in Hawaii.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2612, S.D. 2, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair