HB 858 Summary

• Authorizes the Department of Public Safety Sheriff Division to inspect shipping containers at commercial harbors and work sites to detect explosives and illegal fireworks, excluding legally regulated fireworks under chapter 132D.

• Establishes a shipping container inspection program beginning October 1, 2019, using explosive-sniffing dogs to randomly inspect containers arriving in Honolulu, prioritizing high-risk shipments while minimizing port delays.

• Imposes shipping container import fees of $1 per container starting July 1, 2019, increasing to $2 per container on July 1, 2020, with all fees deposited into a special fund to support the inspection program.

• Increases the maximum fine for fireworks violations from $2,000 to $5,000 per violation.

• Appropriates $250,000 for fiscal years 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 to establish and administer the inspection program, including purchase and care of at least two explosive-sniffing dogs.