CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 163

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: S.B. No. 821

S.D. 1

H.D. 2

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sirs:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 821, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FIREWORKS,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to establish an Illegal Fireworks Task Force to plan, coordinate, and engage in law enforcement operations to interdict illegal fireworks; develop a comprehensive strategic plan to stop the importation of illegal fireworks and explosives into the State; promote compliance with the state fireworks control laws; and ensure the safety and security of the airports, harbors, and other facilities and institutions in the State against the discharge of illegal fireworks and explosives.

Your Committee on Conference finds that the Fireworks Control Law and its associated penalties have proven to be an inadequate deterrent for the illegal use of fireworks in the State, with the use of illegal fireworks in the State increasing in recent years and fireworks going off in certain neighborhoods for months at a time. This measure will reduce the usage of illegal fireworks in the State and address the inadequacies of the Fireworks Control Law.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Adding the requisite information for making an appropriation in excess of the general fund expenditure ceiling pursuant to article VII, section 9, of the Hawaii State Constitution and sections 37-91 and 37-93, Hawaii Revised Statutes;

(2) Inserting an appropriation amount of $1,250,000 for FY 2023-2024 for the Illegal Fireworks Task Force;

(3) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2023; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 821, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 821, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ DAVID A. TARNAS Co-Chair	____________________________ GLENN WAKAI Chair
____________________________ SCOTT Y. NISHIMOTO Co-Chair	____________________________ MICHELLE N. KIDANI Co-Chair