STAND. COM. REP. NO. 325

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 513

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 513 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE ENFORCEMENT OF LAWS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Increase the fireworks display permit fee from $110 to $150 and the fine for certain fireworks violations from $2,000 per violation to $5,000 per violation;

 

     (2)  Clarify that each aerial device, display firework, or article pyrotechnic having a total weight of twenty-five pounds or less that is illegally imported, transferred, or sold constitutes a separate violation;

 

     (3)  Increase the penalty for removing or extracting the pyrotechnic contents;

 

     (4)  Require the Attorney General to establish an explosion detection technology working group;

 

     (5)  Require the Department of Public Safety to develop and implement a web-based fireworks reporting tool;

 

     (6)  Authorize the Sheriff Division to enforce the fireworks control law; and

 

     (7)  Appropriate funds.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Fire Council, Honolulu Fire Department, and one individual.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Public Safety.

 

     Your Committee finds that the people of the State deserve to live in peace and security, without the public safety risks, health hazards, and traumatic impacts of illegal fireworks use.  Your Committee also finds that Act 170, Session Laws of Hawaii 2010, established an Illegal Fireworks Task Force to develop strategies and make recommendations to the Legislature to address the illegal importation and use of fireworks in the State.  Among other matters, the Illegal Fireworks Task Force recommended that the Legislature consider increasing fireworks permit fees and violation fines to deter the use of illegal fireworks, decrease the supply of illegal fireworks in the State, and increase funding for prevention and enforcement efforts.  This measure adopts the recommendations of the Illegal Fireworks Task Force by increasing penalties and fines to deter the illegal use of fireworks.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 513 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs,

 

 

 

________________________________

CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair