Bill Text: HI HR135 | 2023 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Requesting The Convening Of An Illegal Fireworks Task Force To Develop A Comprehensive Strategic Plan To Stop The Importation Of Illegal Fireworks And Explosives In The State, Promote Compliance With State Fireworks Control Laws, And Ensure The Safety And Security Of The Airports, Harbors, And Other Facilities And Institutions In The State Against The Discharge Of Illegal Fireworks And Explosives.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-03-15 - Referred to JHA, referral sheet 20 [HR135 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2023-HR135-Introduced.html

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	135
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

 

requesting the convening of an illegal fireworks task force to develop a comprehensive strategic plan to stop the importation of illegal fireworks and explosives in the state, promote compliance with state fireworks control laws, and ensure the safety and security of the airports, harbors, and other facilities and institutions in the state against the discharge of illegal fireworks and explosives.

 

 

 

     WHEREAS, illegal use of fireworks in Hawaii has caused brush fires, structural fires, injuries, and even death despite the various local, state, and federal laws governing the manufacture, transportation, distribution, sale, and use of fireworks that continue to be violated at what appears to be an increasing rate; and

 

     WHEREAS, while law enforcement efforts to control illegal fireworks in Hawaii have had limited results, a concerted multi-jurisdictional approach is needed to address the illegal fireworks problem in Hawaii; and

 

     WHEREAS, establishing a task force to develop a comprehensive strategic plan to stop the importation of illegal fireworks and explosives into Hawaii would promote compliance with the state fireworks control laws and ensure the safety and security of the airports, harbors, and other facilities and institutions in the State against the discharge of illegal fireworks and explosives; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2023, that this body requests the convening of an Illegal Fireworks Task Force to develop a comprehensive strategic plan to stop the importation of illegal fireworks and explosives in the State, promote compliance with state fireworks control laws, and ensure the safety and security of the airports, harbors, and other facilities and institutions in the State against the discharge of illegal fireworks and explosives; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Illegal Fireworks Task Force be established within the Department of Law Enforcement for administrative purposes; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Illegal Fireworks Task Force is requested to use findings from the Legislative Reference Bureau's 2019 report, "Blast from the Past: An Update to the Report of the Illegal Fireworks Task Force to the Legislature for the Regular Session of 2011", as the basis for developing its comprehensive strategic plan; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Director of Law Enforcement or the Director's designee is requested to be the Chair of the Illegal Fireworks Task Force; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the following individuals serve as members of the Illegal Fireworks Task Force:

 

     (1)  Attorney General or the Attorney General's designee;

 

     (2)  Deputy Director of the Harbors Division of the Department of Transportation or the Deputy Director's designee;

 

     (3)  Chief of Police of each county police department or the Chief of Police's designee;

 

     (4)  Prosecuting Attorney of each county or the Prosecuting Attorney's designee;

 

     (5)  Two representatives of the shipping and trucking industry, to be invited by the Chair of the task force; and

 

     (6)  Two representatives of the fireworks industry, to be invited by the Chair of the task force; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Chair of the Illegal Fireworks Task Force is requested to invite representatives of the following federal entities to serve as members of the task force:

 

     (1)  United States Attorney's Office, District of Hawaii;

 

     (2)  United States Department of Homeland Security;

 

     (3)  Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives;

 

     (4)  Federal Bureau of Investigation;

 

     (5)  United States Coast Guard;

 

     (6)  United States Customs and Border Protection; and

 

     (7)  United States Drug Enforcement Administration; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Illegal Fireworks Task Force is requested to submit a report of its comprehensive strategic plan, including findings, recommendations, and any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2024; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the United States Secretary of Homeland Security; Director of the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Commandant of the United States Coast Guard; Acting Commissioner of the United States Customs and Border Protection; Administrator of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration; United States Attorney of the United States Attorney's Office, District of Hawaii; Attorney General; Director of Transportation; Chief of Police of each county; and County Prosecutor of each county.

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

Illegal Fireworks Task Force; Department of Law Enforcement; Strategic Plan