STAND. COM. REP. NO.  618

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

RE:   H.B. No. 385

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 385, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to reduce smoking and other tobacco product use by young persons by, among other things:

(1)  Increasing the minimum age that a person can purchase any tobacco product or electronic smoking device from 18 to 21 years of age; and

(2)  Prohibiting the sale or furnishing of tobacco, tobacco products, and electronic smoking devices to persons under 21 years of age.

The Department of Health, Honolulu Police Department, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Heart Association, American Lung Association of the Mountain Pacific, Coalition for a Tobacco Free Hawaii, Hawaii COPD Coalition, University of Hawaii Student Health Advisory Council, University of Hawai‘i Cancer Center, and many concerned individuals testified in support of this measure.  Several concerned individuals testified in opposition.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 385, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair