STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1174-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: S.B. No. 2841

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Culture, Arts, & International Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2841 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WATER SAFETY DAY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to designate May 15 of each year as Water Safety Day.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance; Hawaiʻi Children's Action Network Speaks!; Hoemana; Hawaiian Lifeguard Association; Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Foundation; Hawaiʻi Children's Action Network Speaks!; and numerous individuals.

Your Committee finds that between 2018 and 2022, drowning was the leading cause of death for children one to seventeen years of age in Hawaii. Your Committee further find that drowning is a very preventable source of injury or death. Therefore, your Committee finds it beneficial to designate a Water Safety Day each year to spread awareness of drowning and educate youth in becoming safer in and around the water.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing its effective date to July 1, 3000, 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 Culture, Arts, & International Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2841, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2841, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Culture, Arts, & International Affairs,

____________________________

ADRIAN K. TAM, Chair