STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3432

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                   

 

RE:     S.R. No. 18

        S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Government Operations, to which was referred S.R. No. 18 entitled:

 

"SENATE RESOLUTION URGING THE STATE TO BAN SINGLE-USE PLASTIC GOODS AND PLASTIC BAGS AND TO SET A SUSTAINABILITY EXAMPLE BY ELIMINATING THE USE OF SINGLE-USE PLASTIC TABLEWARE AT STATE DEPARTMENT MEETINGS AND FUNCTIONS,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the State to:

 

     (1)  Ban single-use plastic goods and plastic bags; and

 

     (2)  Set a sustainability example by eliminating the use of single-use plastic tableware at State Department meetings and functions.

 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawaii Youth Services Network, Maui Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation, and five individuals.  Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from the American Chemistry Council.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Hawaii Food Industry Association.

 

     Your Committees find that single-use plastics are detrimental to the State's environment and economy and to the health and well-being of both humans and animals.

 

     Your Committees have amended this measure by removing specific references to Bill 40 (now Ordinance 19-30), which was enacted as an ordinance in December 2019.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Government Operations that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 18, as amended herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 18, S.D. 1.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Government Operations,

 

________________________________

LAURA H. THIELEN, Chair

 

________________________________

MIKE GABBARD, Chair