STAND. COM. REP. NO.  230-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   H.B. No. 2321

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 2321 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE REGULATION OF ELECTRONIC SMOKING DEVICES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to prohibit the use of electronic smoking devices, also referred to as e-cigarettes, in enclosed and partially enclosed public areas, places of employment, and other areas specified under Chapter 328J, Hawaii Revised Statutes, where the smoking of tobacco products is prohibited under that chapter.

This measure also updates signage requirements to reflect that e-cigarettes and other electronic smoking devices are prohibited where smoking is prohibited by law.

The Department of Health, Department of the Attorney General, American Heart Association, American Lung Association, Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Hawaii, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, and numerous individuals supported this measure.  The Hawaii Smokers Alliance and numerous individuals opposed this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate continued discussion; and

(2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     Your Committee notes that the federal Food and Drug Administration intends to issue a proposed ruling that extends its tobacco product authority beyond cigarettes and tobacco, to include products like e-cigarettes.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2321, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2321, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,

____________________________

DELLA AU BELATTI, Chair