STAND. COM. REP. NO. 25

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 347

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 347 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LITTER CONTROL,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to prohibit the intentional release of balloons inflated with a gas that is lighter than air.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawaii Reef and Ocean Coalition, The Humane Society of the United States, Beach Environmental Awareness Campaign Hawaii, Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, five individuals, and a petition signed by over fifteen hundred individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that the release of balloons inflated with lighter-than-air gases poses a danger and nuisance to the environment, particularly to wildlife and marine animals.  Many animals are attracted to the bright colors of balloons and mistake them for food, which can cause an animal severe injury or death.  Animals are often found entangled in balloon strings and as a result are injured or strangled to death.

 

     Your Committee further finds that any benefit provided by the intentional release of balloons is de minimis at best.  Your Committee notes that there are numerous other ecologically friendly options to celebrate or commemorate events.  Therefore, your Committee finds that to ensure the safety of wildlife and marine animals and protect the environment, the intentional release of balloons filled with lighter-than-air gas should be prohibited, except under certain circumstances.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by inserting language finding that several states, including California, Connecticut, Florida, New Jersey, Tennessee, and Virginia, as well as numerous counties in other states have prohibited the release of balloons inflated with lighter-than-air gases.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 347, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 347, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

 

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

 

 

 

________________________________

MIKE GABBARD, Chair