STAND

 

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2499

Honolulu, Hawaii

,

RE: S.B. No. 3105

S.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Energy, Environment, and International Affairs and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 3105 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DEPOSIT BEVERAGE CONTAINER PROGRAM,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to extend the reverse vending machine rebate program to persons who are not dealers or recyclers.

The Department of Health, the Windward Ahupua'a Alliance, Reynolds Recycling, and the Sierra Club Hawaii Chapter submitted testimony in support of this measure. The Hawaii Food Industry Association submitted testimony in opposition.

Your Committees find that recycling helps reduce the negative impacts of solid waste on our communities and the environment, in general. This measure provides an incentive for persons who are not dealers or recyclers to make reverse vending machines available and consequently increase consumer convenience with regard to the deposit beverage container law.

Upon further consideration, your Committees amended this measure by:

(1) Extending the date by which the reverse vending machines must be installed and operational in order to qualify for the existing rebate to December 31, 2007;

(2) Clarifying that the new rebate is for persons who are not dealers or recyclers;

(3) Extending the time by which a person must apply for the new rebate to January 1, 2007; and

(4) Making technical, non-substantive amendments for clarity and style.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy, Environment, and International Affairs and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Housing that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3105, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3105, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Energy, Environment, and International Affairs and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Housing,

____________________________ RON MENOR, Chair		____________________________ J. KALANI ENGLISH, Chair