STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1041

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 192

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 192, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENERGY EFFICIENCY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to prohibit the sale of certain fluorescent lamps in the State as a new manufactured product, with certain exemptions.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Hawaii State Energy Office, Department of Environmental Management of the County of Hawai‘i, Blue Planet Foundation, Hawai‘i Energy, Appliance Standards Awareness Project, Ulupono Initiative, and five individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Alliance for Automotive Innovation.

Your Committee finds that mercury is a widespread environmental pollutant that has severe negative impacts on the developing brains of children and can cause other adverse health effects in humans and animals. Fluorescent lamps are a significant source of mercury in the State. Your Committee further finds that the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, the Appliance Standards Awareness Project, CLASP, and the Clean Lighting Coalition recommend that state, federal, and international policymakers should now phase out fluorescent bulbs to reduce mercury in homes and the environment while cutting greenhouse gas emissions. This measure will support the efforts to decrease chemical contamination in Hawaii.

Your Committee has amended this measure by exempting lamps used to replace lamps in previously manufactured motor vehicles from the prohibitions established by this measure.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 192, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 192, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

____________________________

MARK M. NAKASHIMA, Chair