Bill Text: HI SB1059 | 2012 | Regular Session | Amended

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Environmental Protection; Plastic Bags Prohibited

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2011-12-01 - Carried over to 2012 Regular Session. [SB1059 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2012-SB1059-Amended.html

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STAND. COM. REP. NO. 183

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 1059

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Energy and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 1059 entitled:

 

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

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to prohibit certain businesses from distributing single-use plastic checkout bags at the point of sale, with certain exceptions, in order to reduce overall waste generation of the State.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Bob Loy, The Outdoor Circle; Marjorie Ziegler, Conservation Council for Hawai‘i; Stuart Coleman, Surfrider Foundation, Hawai‘i Chapters; Gina Hart; Joy Leilei Shih; Scott Higgins; Mariya Gold; Roxanne Rivero; Rachel Harvey; Charlie Taylor; Brent Carman; Sandra; Ken Sentner; Annie Lovell; and Danielle Best.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from Loretta J. Fuddy, Department of Health; Tim Shestek, American Chemistry Council; Lauren Zirbel, Hawaii Food Industry Association; Carol Pregill, Retail Merchants of Hawaii; Jennifer Milholen; Lee McIntosh; Natalie Iwasa; and Marjorie Bonar.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from Victor Lim, Hawaii Restaurant Association.

 

     Your Committee finds that single-use plastic checkout bags present a hazard to the environment and that this measure addresses that hazard.  Your Committee recognizes that there are other methods of addressing the harm that the unregulated proliferation of these bags cause and that this measure is one of several potential means.  Your Committee also acknowledges the concerns raised in testimony regarding clarification of the prepared food exemption in the measure.

 

     Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Clarifying the exemption for bags used to protect prepared foods or bakery goods;

 

     (2)  Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to allow for further discussion of this measure; and

 

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

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1059, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1059, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Labor.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy and Environment,

 

		____________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair