STAND. COM. REP. 3108

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2004

RE: H.B. No. 2013

S.D. 2

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 2013, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO POLYBROMINATED DIPHENYL ETHERS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to phase out products containing brominated flame retardants by 2008.

The State of Hawaii Women's Legislative Caucus and Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Hawaii testified in support of this measure. The Bromine Science and Environmental Forum opposed the measure.

Your Committee finds that flame retardants, known as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are widely used in products such as furniture cushions, car seats, fabrics, and electronic casings, and that these chemicals have been found in human breast milk, household dust, air samples, fish, marine mammals, and foods. The research also indicates that PBDE exposure interferes with thyroid production of a key hormone that helps to guide brain development and may also adversely affect reproductive hormones.

Your Committee further finds that the European Union has banned two commercial mixtures of PBDE, pentaBDE and octaBDE. California has banned these mixtures as of 2008. This measure adopts a similar ban, prohibiting the manufacturing, processing, or distribution of products containing more than one-tenth of one per cent of pentaBDE or octaBDE, on or after January 1, 2008.

Your Committee has amended this measure:

(1) To advance the effective date of the ban to January 1, 2006; and

(2) By making technical, nonsubstantive amendments to reflect preferred drafting style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2013, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2013, S.D. 2.

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

____________________________

RON MENOR, Chair