STAND. COM. REP. NO. 88-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 1894

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, Human Services, & Homelessness, to which was referred H.B. No. 1894 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HUMAN REMAINS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to accommodate the use of traditional Hawaiian burial practices and environmentally friendly burial practices by including water cremation in the treatment and disposal of human remains.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Aloha Mortuary; Fisher & Associates, LLC; and thirteen individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health; Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs; and Hawaii Funeral & Cemetery Association, Inc.

Your Committee finds that traditional Hawaiian burials play a critical role in Hawaiian culture and should be encouraged to promote greater cultural preservation. Your Committee further finds that the water cremation process benefits practitioners of traditional Hawaiian burial techniques and individuals who want an environmentally‑friendly cremation option for themselves or their loved ones.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2060, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health, Human Services, & Homelessness that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1894, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1894, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health, Human Services, & Homelessness,

____________________________

RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair