STAND. COM. REP. NO.  53

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2021

 

RE:   H.B. No. 562

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 562 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO BOTTLED WATER,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to repeal the requirement that noncarbonated bottled water be transported, stored, processed, or bottled through lines or equipment through which only water is passed.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Sierra Club, Hawaii Food Industry Association, Ball Corporation, Ko Olina Resort Operators Association, and two individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that many carbonated soft drink companies on the mainland produce canned noncarbonated water with the same equipment used to make their other products.  However, existing state law expressly prohibits carbonated soft drink, juice, and beer operations from using the same equipment to can noncarbonated bottled water.  This measure ensures that local beverage filling companies that manufacture other products can provide noncarbonated water in aluminum cans to consumers as an alternative to single-use plastic water bottles.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 562, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 562, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair