STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2728

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2369

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Health and Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 2369 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATED TO TOXIC CHEMICALS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure to:

(1) Establish a working group to plan for the remediation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination throughout the State; and

(2) Require reports to the Legislature.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Honolulu Board of Water Supply, Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi, Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi, Greenpeace Hawaii, Hawaii Reef and Ocean Coalition, Climate Protectors Hawaiʻi, Hawaii Food+ Policy, and three individuals.

Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Health.

Your Committees find that PFAS and related chemicals remain in the environment for long periods of time and that low levels of exposure to PFAS have been linked to major medical conditions including cancer, thyroid disease, kidney disfunction, and birth defects. Your Committees note that, as of August 2023, twenty-five other states have enforced drinking water standards related to PFAS. The establishment of a long-term working group as proposed by this measure would increase publicly available information, and prepare for future regulation, regarding PFAS and other chemical substances.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Amending the composition of the working group by:

(A) Requiring the chairs of the House and Senate standing committees with subject matter jurisdiction encompassing environmental protection and restoration to serve as co-chairs of the working group; and

(B) Reassigning the Director of Health to serve as a member; and

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

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Health and Human Services that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2369, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2369, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Health and Human Services,

________________________________ JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair