SB2228

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that there has been a dramatic increase in the use of electronic smoking devices by Hawaii's youth. Between 2011 to 2015, the proportion of youth experimenting with electronic smoking devices increased six-fold among middle school youth and four-fold among high school youth. In 2017, twenty-seven per cent of middle school students and forty-two per cent of public high school students tried electronic smoking devices. Today, sixteen per cent of middle school students and more than a quarter of high school students use electronic smoking devices.

Current use of electronic smoking devices by county is even more problematic, with figures exceeding thirty per cent on the islands of Hawaii, Maui, and Kauai. These rates are higher than the national average, demonstrate a disturbing trend of youth nicotine use, and threaten to undermine the historic decline in combustible cigarette use that has been achieved.

The legislature further finds that popularity of electronic cigarettes among youth is especially concerning because these products contain nicotine. On December 18, 2018, the United States Surgeon General made the unprecedented move of classifying the danger of youth usage of electronic smoking devices as an epidemic. The United States Surgeon General noted in the 2016 report titled, "E-Cigarette Use Among Youth and Young Adults", that "[b]ecause the adolescent brain is still developing, nicotine use during adolescence can disrupt the formation of brain circuits that control attention, learning, and susceptibility to addiction."

The legislature is also concerned with the number of severe lung injuries being reported nationally in 2019. Specifically, there are more than two thousand cases of severe lung injury associated with electronic cigarette use and over forty deaths nationwide. Hawaii has had four reported cases of severe lung injury, with potentially more on the horizon. The unregulated nature of electronic cigarettes is making it difficult for public health officials to determine the source and cause of these injuries.

The legislature also finds that a significant driver to increased youth use of electronic smoking devices is the availability of flavored products. While a 2009 federal law, the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, prohibited characterizing flavors, including fruit and candy flavorings, in cigarettes, it did not ban the use of characterizing flavors in other tobacco products, such as electronic smoking devices.

The tobacco industry and electronic smoking device industry have in recent years significantly increased the introduction and marketing of flavored non-cigarette tobacco products for electronic smoking devices. Adding flavors to tobacco changes the taste and reduces the harshness of the otherwise unflavored tobacco product, making smoking more appealing and easier for beginners to try. According to a recent survey, eighty-one per cent of youth who used a tobacco product reported that the first tobacco product they used was flavored. Therefore, it is no coincidence that the number of electronic cigarette flavors has skyrocketed in recent years, with more than fifteen thousand unique electronic cigarette flavors identified in a 2018 study.

The legislature further finds that Hawaii has experienced the heightened promotion of electronic cigarette products that offer flavors designed to appeal to the State's youth, such as candy, fruit, chocolate, mint, Kona coffee, Maui mango, shaka strawberry, and Molokai hot bread. Additionally, many of the packages are designed to resemble popular candies, such as Jolly Ranchers and Sour Patch Kids.

Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to prohibit:

(1) The sale of flavored products for electronic smoking devices;

(2) The mislabeling of e-liquid products containing nicotine; and

(3) The sale of electronic smoking devices, e-liquid, electronic smoking device accessories, and flavored products for electronic smoking devices other than through retail sales via a direct, in-person exchange between a retailer and consumer.

SECTION 2. Chapter 712, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part IV to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§712- Sale of flavored products for electronic smoking devices; mislabeling; nicotine-free; remote retail sales. (1) Beginning July 1, 2020, it shall be unlawful for any retailer or any agents or employees of the retailer to:

(a) Sell, offer for sale, or possess with the intent to sell or offer for sale, a flavored product for electronic smoking devices;

(b) Mislabel as nicotine-free, or sell or market for sale as nicotine-free, any e-liquid product that contains nicotine; or

(c) Sell electronic smoking devices, e-liquid, electronic smoking device accessories, and flavored products for electronic smoking devices other than through retail sales via a direct, in-person exchange between a retailer and a consumer.

(2) A statement or claim directed to consumers or the public that an e-liquid or electronic smoking device accessory is flavored shall be prima facie evidence that the product is a flavored product for electronic smoking devices; provided that the statement or claim may include but not be limited to text, color, or images on the product's labeling or packaging that is used to explicitly or implicitly communicate that the product has a flavor made by a manufacturer or an agent or employee of the manufacturer in the course of the person's agency or employment.

(3) Any flavored product for electronic smoking devices found in a retailer's possession that is in violation of this section shall be considered contraband, promptly seized, and subject to immediate forfeiture and destruction, and shall not be subject to the procedures set forth in chapter 712A.

(4) Any retailer who violates this section may be sentenced to a fine of $500 per day. Any subsequent offenses shall subject the offender to a fine of not less than $500 and not more than $2,500 per day.

(5) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, any county may adopt a rule or ordinance that places greater restrictions on the access to flavored products for electronic smoking devices than provided for in this section. In the case of a conflict between the restrictions in this section and any county rule or ordinance regarding access to flavored products for electronic smoking devices, the more stringent restrictions shall prevail.

(6) For the purposes of this section:

"Distinguishable" means perceivable by either the sense of smell or taste.

"Electronic smoking device" has the same meaning as defined in section 712-1258(7).

"E-liquid" means any liquid or like substance, which may or may not contain nicotine, that is designed or intended to be used in an electronic smoking device, whether or not packaged in a cartridge or other container.

"Flavored product for electronic smoking devices" means any electronic smoking device product that contains a taste or smell that is distinguishable by a consumer either prior to, or during the consumption of, a nicotine product, including but not limited to any taste or smell relating to fruit, menthol, mint, wintergreen, chocolate, cocoa, vanilla, honey, or any candy, dessert, alcoholic beverage, herb, or spice.

"Labeling" means written, printed, pictorial, or graphic matter upon a product or any of its packaging.

"Packaging" means a pack, box, carton, or container of any kind, or if no other container, any wrapping, including cellophane, in which a flavored product for electronic smoking devices is sold or offered for sale to a consumer.

"Retailer" means an entity that sells, offers for sale, or exchanges or offers to exchange for any form of consideration tobacco products, including electronic smoking devices, e‑liquids, or electronic smoking device accessories, to consumers. The term "retailer" includes the owner of a tobacco retail location.

"Tobacco product" has the same meaning as defined in section 712-1258(7).

"Tobacco retail location" means any premises where tobacco products are sold or distributed to a consumer, including but not limited to any store, bar, lounge, cafe, stand, outlet, vehicle, cart, location, vending machine, or structure."

SECTION 3. This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.

SECTION 4. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2020.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2228
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020
STATE OF HAWAII