THE SENATE

S.C.R. NO.

63

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2002

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

  
   

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

REQUESTING THAT A TASK FORCE BE CONVENED TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF having the DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH REGULATe TOBACCO AS A CONSUMER PRODUCT.

 

WHEREAS, one-third of all children who smoke regularly will eventually die of tobacco-related causes, with 430,000 deaths nationally and 1,400 deaths in Hawaii annually from tobacco-related causes; and

WHEREAS, tobacco-related diseases are the leading preventable cause of mortality and morbidity in this country for the past 50 years; and

WHEREAS, despite a massive and expensive anti-tobacco efforts that have included education, negative advertising, and environmental restrictions, there has been no significant reduction in smoking for any societal group except for Caucasian males; and

WHEREAS, the increase in smoking is especially high for females, teenagers, native Hawaiians, and all ethnic minorities, in spite of the efforts put forth to increase knowledge and awareness of tobacco's harmful effects; and

WHEREAS, it has been publicly acknowledged by all sectors that tobacco products containing nicotine at any level are addictive; and

WHEREAS, the nicotine levels of many tobacco products, including cigarettes, are as addictive as cocaine and heroin and prevent smokers from quitting despite repeated efforts; and

WHEREAS, many tobacco products also contain an average of 33 different carcinogens and many other harmful constituents known to cause or exacerbate a wide spectrum of acute and chronic diseases, including emphysema, heart disease, and cancer; and

WHEREAS, the toxins in tobacco products can cause serious illness and death; and

WHEREAS, we are only now beginning to realize the severe toxic effects of the hundreds of components and additives of cigarettes, with many of these components neither disclosed by the manufacturers nor controlled to minimize the severe debilitating and adverse health risks; and

WHEREAS, annual tobacco-related health costs in Hawaii are four times greater than the amount Hawaii consumers spend on cigarettes, totaling $87,000,000 annually in costs, profits, and taxes, causing a large economic burden on the State; and

WHEREAS, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently requested all states to examine their laws regarding consumer safety and tobacco products as a means to:

(1) Assure a consistent product;

(2) Evaluate and minimize harmful effects; and

(3) Evaluate and maximize benefits;

and

WHEREAS, in Hawaii, the first step toward the regulation of tobacco as a harmful consumer product requires a risk and feasibility study to assess factors such as, but not limited to:

(1) FDA and other data regarding the detrimental effects of tobacco products;

(2) Current public disclosure of and industry standards for tobacco additives;

(3) Health risks and associated costs of tobacco products; and

(4) Scope and cost of public regulation;

now, therefore

 

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2002, the House of Representatives concurring, that this body requests the Department of Health to convene a task force to study the feasibility of regulating tobacco products (cigarettes, cigars, snuff, pipe tobacco, or chewing tobacco) as a harmful consumer product; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force be composed of 15 members representing the Department of Health, the Legislature, the Hawaii Medical Association, Hawaii Public Health Association, Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, John A. Burns School of Medicine, Coalition for Tobacco Free Hawaii, the Tobacco Industry, and the public; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Health shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the Legislature no later than 20 days before the convening of the Regular Session of 2003; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, the Director of the Department of Health, the Executive Director of the Hawaii Medical Association, the President of the Hawaii Public Health Association, the Staff Judge Advocate to the Commandant of the Marine Corps in Hawaii, the Dean of the John A. Burns School of Medicine, Coalition for Tobacco Free Hawaii, and the tobacco industry.

Report Title:

Regulating tobacco as a consumer product; task force.