STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1391

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: S.B. No. 821

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 821, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FIREWORKS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish the Illegal Fireworks Task Force within the Department of Law Enforcement to plan, coordinate, and engage in law enforcement operations.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Law Enforcement, Department of Transportation, Makiki/Lower Punchbowl/Tantalus Neighborhood Board No. 10, Pearl City Neighborhood Board No. 21, Hawaiian Humane Society, and eleven individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from four individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaii Harbor Users Group; Matson Navigation Company, Inc.; and Young Brothers, LLC.

Your Committee 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. This measure will convene a task force to develop a strategy to address these inadequacies.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Amending the list of federal agencies whose representatives must be invited to serve as members of the Illegal Fireworks Task Force to:

(A) Delete the United States Drug Enforcement Administration; and

(B) Include the Office of Homeland Security Investigations of the Department of Homeland Security; and

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

Your Committee believes that the Illegal Fireworks Task Force should consult with the Hawaii Harbors Users Group in the formation of its plan.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 821, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 821, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair