STAND. COM. REP. NO. 250

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 966

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 966 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DISPOSAL OF SOLID WASTE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to allow as punishment for felony disposal of solid waste and petty misdemeanor disposal of solid waste, forfeiture of any vehicle used in the commission of the offense.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that illegal dumping involves the unauthorized disposal of numerous types of waste usually by personal or commercial vehicle. Typical materials dumped illegally include building materials from construction sites such as drywall, roofing shingles, lumber, brick, concrete, and siding, automobile parts, household appliances, household waste, furniture, yard scraps, and medical waste, the dumping of which often relies on a commercial or personal vehicle for transport. Your Committee further finds that the effects of illegal dumping include health, environmental, and economic consequences. Since illegal dumping occurs without the same precautionary safeguards that are required at legal waste disposal locations, such as landfills, it can lead to pollution of the surrounding environment through the spread of hazardous materials, which can infiltrate the air, soil, and drinking water sources. Thus, this measure will curtail future illegal dumping and protect the environment by adding to the fines of $50,000 and $25,000 for felony and petty misdemeanor offense, respectively, the forfeiture of any vehicle owned and operated by the person in the commission of the offense.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 966 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture and Environment,

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MIKE GABBARD, Chair