STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2378

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2053

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Water and Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 2053 entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Authorize the Department of Land and Natural Resources to contract or form a partnership with private parties to assist with maintenance and management of sunscreen dispensers on all state beaches; and

(2) Appropriate funds for the installation, maintenance, management, and operation of mineral-based sunscreen dispensers on all state beaches.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaiʻi Reef and Ocean Coalition, PlanIt Branding, and three individuals.

Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and Public Access to SunScreens Coalition.

Your Committees find that the reduced use of sunscreens containing certain chemicals would benefit the health and resilience of Hawaii's coral reef ecosystems. Your Committees believe that, following the relative success of installing a mineral sunscreen dispenser at the Hapuna State Recreation Area on Hawaii island, the deployment of sunscreen dispensers at all state beaches will further protect Hawaii's coral reefs as well as ease the burden of securing reef-safe sunscreens to residents and visitors. This measure will benefit the State by decreasing the amount of chemicals that adversely impact Hawaii's marine ecosystem from entering state waters while protecting beachgoers from skin cancer.

According to testimony received by your Committees, an appropriation of $100,000 per year could fund the installation and operation of up to fifty sunscreen dispensers at beaches throughout the State. Your Committees also recognize that existing state laws do not prevent visiting beachgoers from bringing and using sunscreens that contain chemicals that contribute to the bleaching of coral.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting language that allows the Department of Land and Natural Resources to publicize that the mineral-based sunscreen within these dispensers is more protective of the coral reefs of the State;

(2) Inserting an appropriation amount of $100,000;

(3) Amending section 1 to reflect its amended purpose; and

(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Water and Land that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2053, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2053, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Water and Land,

________________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair