STAND.
COM. REP. NO. 238
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2023
RE: H.B. No. 921
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 Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 921 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL CRIMES,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to:
(1) Establish and appropriate funds for the Environmental Crimes Unit within the Department of the Attorney General;
(2) Make the disposal of motor vehicle tires in
violation of state law governing recovery of used motor vehicle tire recovery a
petty misdemeanor;
(3) Establish a $1 motor vehicle tire surcharge to
be imposed on every replacement tire installed on a motor vehicle in the State
after September 30, 2023;
(4) Require tire retailers and tire wholesalers
who install replacement tires to pay the surcharge to the Department of Health;
and
(5) Allow the Department of Health to use the
Environmental Management Special Fund to fund the Environmental Crimes Unit.
Your Committee finds that environmental
crimes, such as illegal dumping of motor vehicle tires, harm the environment
and have serious consequences for human health, wildlife, and the
ecosystem. Establishing an Environmental
Crimes Unit within the Department of the Attorney General will assist with the
enforcement of existing environmental laws in the State and protect Hawaii's
natural resources.
Your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Changing the effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and
(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.
Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider the suggestions made by the Department of the Attorney General in its testimony related to any necessary amendments.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 921, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 921, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the
Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,
|
|
|
____________________________ NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair |
|
|
|
|