STAND. COM. REP. NO. 840

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 690

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which was referred S.B. No. 690, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENERGY EFFICIENCY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to prohibit the sale of certain fluorescent lamps as a new manufactured product, with certain exemptions.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Energy Office, Appliance Standards Awareness Project of the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, Blue Planet Foundation, Hawai‘i Energy, Ulupono Initiative, and two individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Alliance for Automotive Innovation.

Your Committee finds that all fluorescent bulbs contain mercury, a potent neurotoxin that threatens human health and the environment. When fluorescent bulbs are accidentally broken, they present a health hazard to those nearby and to the environment. Light-emitting diodes, or LEDs, last about twice as long as fluorescent bulbs and use approximately half the electricity to produce the same amount of light. LEDs also do not contain mercury, so they can be disposed of conveniently and more cheaply than fluorescents. This measure will help avoid the dumping of hazardous lamps in Hawaii from other locations that have banned these products, reduce electricity bills, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and avoid the production of harmful mercury.

Your Committee acknowledges concerns raised in testimony that while fluorescent lamps have been phased out for new vehicles, older vehicles still utilize fluorescent lamps to light up display units and must be replaced by subsequent fluorescent lamps, as there is no alternative for replacement. Therefore, amendments to this measure are necessary to address this concern.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting language exempting fluorescent lamps used to replace a lamp installed as original equipment in previously manufactured motor vehicles from the prohibitions established in this measure; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 690, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 690, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection,

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JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE, Chair