STAND. COM. REP. NO.  219

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

RE:   H.B. No. 621

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 621 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to decrease the amount of waste flowing into the ocean and protect the State's marine environment by gradually prohibiting the manufacture and sale of personal care products containing synthetic plastic microbeads.

The Surfrider Foundation and the Surfrider Foundation Oahu Chapter, Rise Above Plastics Coalition, Beach Environmental Awareness Campaign Hawaii, Animal Rights Hawaii, Conservation Council for Hawaii, and several concerned individuals supported this measure.  The American Chemistry Council, Personal Care Products Council, and Consumer Healthcare Products Association supported this measure with amendments.  The Department of Health opposed this measure.  

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Clarifying the timeframe to gradually prohibit the manufacture and sale of personal care products containing synthetic plastic microbeads, beginning December 31, 2017, through December 31, 2019;

     (2)  Specifying that the State's gradual prohibition of synthetic plastic microbeads will preempt any ordinance or resolution of a municipality, county or any other local government entity concerning synthetic plastic microbeads; and

     (3)  Making technical nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     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. 621, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 621, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ocean, Marine Resources, & Hawaiian Affairs.

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

____________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair