STAND. COM. REP. NO.2698

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2002

RE: S.B. No. 3014

S.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 3014 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ALOHA STADIUM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the Stadium Authority to review and compare the current artificial turf with more technologically advanced turf products.

In addition, the review is to include an assessment of those injuries attributed to the current artificial surface, costs of installation and maintenance, liability concerns, questions as to how the type of surface affects the booking and contracting for events at the stadium, and any other issues that may be appropriate. The Authority is to report its findings and recommendations back to the Legislature prior to the 2003 Regular Session.

Your Committee finds that some forms of artificial turf have been cited as the cause of sports injuries, and that the synthetic turf at Aloha Stadium, which serves as the State's showcase during the football season, has generated similar controversy since its installation.

Your Committee further finds that the NFL Pro Bowl contract includes a provision that requires the Hawaii Tourism Authority to use best efforts to provide a natural turf playing surface at Aloha Stadium, or other alternative turf that is acceptable to the NFL. While some efforts have been made to ban the use of artificial turf, advances in technology have improved the safety features of synthetic surfaces. Your Committee finds that this measure will serve to enhance the safety of all athletes playing at Aloha Stadium.

Upon further consideration, your Committee has amended this bill by making technical nonsubstantive changes for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3014, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3014, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair