STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1874

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                   

 

RE:     H.B. No. 497

        H.D. 1

        S.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 497, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FIREWORKS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish a task force to examine the illegal import of fireworks and contraband into Hawaii.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Public Safety; Hawaii State Fire Council; Fire Department of the County of Hawaii; American Promotional Events, Inc.; and three individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Legislative Reference Bureau, Matson Navigation, and one individual.

 

     Your Committee finds that the unlawful use of fireworks creates public health hazards and strains emergency response capabilities of public safety agencies.  Your Committee further finds that illegal fireworks are an ongoing issue in Hawaii, and that Act 170, Session Laws of Hawaii 2010 (Act 170), established an illegal fireworks task force, within the Legislative Reference Bureau for administrative purposes, to develop a plan and make recommendations to stop the importation of illegal fireworks and explosives into Hawaii; and develop a strategy to ensure the safety and security of the airports, harbors, and other facilities and institutions in Hawaii against the discharge of illegal fireworks and explosives.  Your Committee additionally finds that Act 170 also mandated the task force to submit a preliminary plan and strategy report to the Legislature prior to the Regular Session of 2011.  Your Committee further finds that this existing report provides a foundation for an updated examination of the illegal import of fireworks and other explosives into Hawaii.

 

     Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Removing language establishing a task force to examine the illegal import of fireworks and contraband into Hawaii; and

 

     (2)  Requiring the Legislative Reference Bureau to update its Report of the Illegal Fireworks Task Force to the Legislature for the Regular Session of 2011.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 497, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 497, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

 

 

 

________________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair