STAND. COM. REP. NO. 666

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 821

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 821 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FIREWORKS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate moneys for the Department of Law Enforcement to purchase drones to monitor the use of illegal fireworks.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from Poi Dogs and Popoki and one individual.

Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Law Enforcement and one individual.

Your Committee finds that the illegal use of aerial fireworks in the State creates dangerous conditions for the affected communities. However, your Committee believes that Senate Bill No. 1339 presents a more appropriate approach to mitigate the illegal use of fireworks and explosives in the State.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting its contents and inserting language from S.B. No. 1339 that establishes, and appropriates moneys for, an illegal fireworks task force to:

(A) Develop a strategic plan to stop the importation of illegal fireworks and explosives in the State;

(B) Promote compliance with the state fireworks control laws; and

(C) Ensure the safety and security of airports, harbors, and other facilities and institutions in the State against the discharge of illegal fireworks and explosives; and

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 821, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 821, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair