STAND. COM. REP. NO. 91

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 504

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. 504 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to prohibit the manufacture, sale, offer for sale, distribution for sale, and distribution for use of any food packaging, food service ware, cosmetic, or personal care product that contains perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, beginning on December 31, 2026.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Americans for Democratic Action Hawai‘i, Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, and three individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Retail Merchants of Hawaii, American Chemistry Council, and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Household and Commercial Products Association.

Your Committee finds that perfluoroalkyl and polyfluroalkyl substances (PFAS), often termed "forever chemicals", are toxic and commonly used chemical compounds that do not breakdown in the environment and can accumulate in animal and human tissue when consumed, applied directly on the skin, or when eating foods packaged with material containing these substances. Your Committee further finds that studies have shown PFAS to create many adverse health effects in animal and human populations including cancer, reproductive and developmental harm, thyroid disruption, impaired immune function, increased cholesterol levels, and vital organ damage. This measure expands on Act 152, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022, by prohibiting additional types of food containers, food service ware, cosmetics and personal cares products, and its implementation will likely decrease the overall burden of PFAS contamination in Hawaii's environment.

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. 504 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection.

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

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MIKE GABBARD, Chair