HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

49

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2004

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

S.D. 1

   


HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

requesting the legislative reference bureau TO conduct a review of the san francisco precautionary principle ordinance.

 

WHEREAS, every citizen has an equal right to a healthy and safe environment, which requires that our air, water, earth, and food be of a sufficiently high standard that individuals and communities can live healthy, fulfilling, and dignified lives; and

WHEREAS, the duty to enhance, protect, and preserve Hawaii's environment rests on the shoulders of government, residents, citizen groups, and businesses alike; and

WHEREAS, historically, environmentally harmful activities have only been stopped after they have manifested extreme environmental degradation or exposed people to harm; and

WHEREAS, last year, San Francisco was the first city in the nation to adopt the Precautionary Principle -- a new policy framework widely used in western and northern European countries for developing laws that protect our health and environment; and

WHEREAS, application of the Precautionary Principle approach as a policy framework may develop laws for a healthier and more just Hawaii; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2004, the Senate concurring, that the Legislature requests the Legislative Reference Bureau to conduct a review that examines the San Francisco Precautionary Principle ordinance; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislative Reference Bureau is requested to report its findings to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2005; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of the Legislative Reference Bureau.

 

Report Title:

Precautionary Principle; LRB Study