STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2460

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2402

       S.D. 1

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Public Safety, Government Operations, and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2402, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LIGHT POLLUTION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish a night sky protection strategy requiring all state agencies to comply with shielded lighting fixture requirements, beginning July 1, 2013.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Department of Accounting and General Services;  Department of Land and Natural Resources; Starlight Reserve Committee; and University of Hawaii System.  Comments were received from the Department of Transportation.

     Your Committee finds that many of Hawaii's problems with light pollution are caused by improperly shielded lights.  Poorly shielded lights direct energy straight into the atmosphere, where it is wasted.  The wasted light produces sky glow, which limits residents' ability to see stars.  For example, in Honolulu only about the brightest twenty stars are visible, whereas about two thousand stars can be seen from a dark location outside of Honolulu.  Poorly shielded lights also cause glare, which diminishes a person's ability to see at night, and enter locations where the light is unwanted (light trespass), including bedrooms, making it difficult for residents to sleep.  Improperly shielded lights on the island of Kauai have led to many bird deaths, particularly of the endangered Newell's shearwater.  This measure sets reasonable light shielding requirements in order to preserve the night sky and quality of life for Hawaii's residents.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety, Government Operations, and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2402, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

WILL ESPERO, Chair