STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1215

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

RE:   S.B. No. 1030

      S.D. 1

      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 Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 1030, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to increase the minimum age for persons who may purchase tobacco products or electronic smoking devices from eighteen to twenty-one years of age.  This measure also defines "tobacco product" to mean any product intended for human consumption that is made or derived from tobacco and contains nicotine, including electronic smoking devices.

The Department of Health, Department of Public Safety, Honolulu Police Department, University of Hawaii, University of Hawaii Student Health Advisory Council, American Heart Association, American Lung Association of the Mountain Pacific, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Coalition for a Tobacco Free Hawaii, Hawaii Medical Service Association, and many concerned individuals testified in support of this measure.  The Hawaii Smokers Alliance, PC Gamerz, and many concerned individuals testified in opposition.  The Chamber of Commerce Hawaii provided comments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure to:

     (1)  Prohibit the possession or consumption in public places of tobacco products, including electronic smoking devices, by persons under 18 years of age;

     (2)  Change the effective date to July 1, 2112, to promote further discussion; and

     (3)  Make technical, nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

     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 S.B. No. 1030, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1030, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

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

____________________________

DELLA AU BELATTI, Chair