HB2438 Summary

• Clarifies the Department of Health's legal authority to prevent nuisances that threaten public health or environmental health, not just individual disease threats.

• Changes Chapter 322, Hawaii Revised Statutes, Part I title from "Abatement of Nuisances" to "Prevention of Nuisances."

• Amends Section 322-1 to explicitly include "environmental health" alongside "public health" as a basis for the Department of Health to examine and prevent nuisances.

• Specifically defines nuisances to include toxic methamphetamine manufacturing materials and clandestine drug labs, and odors and filth resulting from feeding feral birds.

• Takes effect upon approval.