Senate committees advance measures on license plates, firearms, single-use plastics and minor employment protections

A joint decision-making session of the Hawaii Senate Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection and the Senate Committee on Judiciary on April 1 recorded committee recommendations to advance multiple bills previously heard in subject-matter committees. Lawmakers voted on measures addressing license plate definitions, firearm retail notice and safe-storage provisions, a single-use plastics proposal, and protections for minors employed in theatrical work.

The committees' action: For each measure the committee recommended passage as noted below; most motions were procedural recommendations carrying prior concurrence from the subject-matter chairs.

HB 228, HD1, SD1 (license plates): The committees recommended passage with amendments to define the terms "cover" and "shield" as they appear on page 2, lines 4''''' and 5 of the bill. Recorded votes in the Commerce and Consumer Protection committee included the chair and vice chair voting aye; Senator McKelvey registered agreement; Senator Richards voted aye; Senator Aawa registered a no vote. The measure subsequently passed the joint calendar.

HB 125, HD1 (firearms): The committee recommended passage unamended. The measure requires retail sellers or transferors of firearms to provide purchasers with notice regarding the law and firearm storage and secure-storage requirements; the committee described the recommendation as a clean passage. The Commerce and Consumer Protection committee recorded a reservation by Senator McKelvey and a no vote by Senator O'Hara (recorded in the transcript as a "no vote"). The measure was adopted on the joint agenda.

HB 348, HD1, SD1 (single-use plastics): The committees recommended passage unamended and the motion was recorded as passing without reservations or objections from members present.

HB 874, HD2, SD1 (minor and theatrical employment): The committees voted to accept the attorney general's recommendation to delete rulemaking authority in a subsection because the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations was not considered the appropriate agency for that rulemaking and private rights of action already exist. The bill requires a parent or legal guardian to establish a trust account for a minor who earns at least $5,000 on a project or $20,000 in a calendar year. Committees passed the measure with amendments.

Votes at a glance: - HB 228 (license plates) ' Committee recommendation: pass with amendments; outcome: approved. Noted no vote: Senator Aawa. - HB 125 (firearms) ' Committee recommendation: pass unamended; outcome: approved. Noted reservations: Senator McKelvey; noted no vote: Senator O'Hara. - HB 348 (single-use plastics) ' Committee recommendation: pass unamended; outcome: approved. - HB 874 (minor/theatrical employment) ' Committee recommendation: pass with amendments (accepting Attorney General suggestion to remove specified rulemaking authority); outcome: approved.

What was not decided: Several items were noted as being rolled or held pending full committee complements for later consideration on the calendar; the committees also noted they would remain for a short period to see if absent members arrived before adjourning the CPN portion of the agenda.

Ending: The joint meeting completed its decision-making agenda items for the morning and recorded the committee recommendations and votes; several measures will proceed to conference or the next Senate floor steps according to legislative procedure.