STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1120

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 427

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committees on Higher Education and Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred H.B. No. 427, H.D. 2, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DARK NIGHT SKIES PROTECTION,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to preserve dark night skies in Hawaii by establishing a Dark Night Skies Protection Advisory Committee.

 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaii System; Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Department of Land and Natural Resources; Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Conservation Council for Hawaii; and one individual.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Transportation, Land Use Commission, Office of the Mayor of the County of Hawaii, Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii, and one individual.

 

     Your Committees find that dark night skies hold important cultural, scientific, astronomical, natural, landscape, and tourism-related value.  Your Committees further find that light pollution, caused by inappropriate use of lighting at night, interferes with dark night sky activities and the nighttime activities of certain animal and insect species.  Your Committees also find that nighttime illumination of state highways, harbors, airports, and other facilities is costly and consumes large amounts of energy.  Your Committees recognize that light pollution is a statewide issue that requires the cooperation of state and county agencies to develop and implement a strategy to reduce nighttime light pollution to help preserve Hawaii's dark night skies for astronomy, endangered species, human health, and reduced energy consumption.

 

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Removing the member of the Land Use Commission from the Advisory Committee;

 

     (2)  Making the measure effective upon its approval; and

 

     (3)  Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Higher Education and Agriculture and Environment that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 427, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 427, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Higher Education and Agriculture and Environment,

 

________________________________

MIKE GABBARD, Chair

 

________________________________

KAIALI'I KAHELE, Chair