STAND. COM. REP. NO. 699

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: H.B. No. 826

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 826, H.D. 2, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Expand the purposes for which monies in the Tobacco Enforcement Special Fund may be used, to include all functions of the Department of the Attorney General;

(2) Expand the scope of the Electronic Smoking Device Retailer Registration Unit to include enforcement of compliance of electronic smoking devices with the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act;

(3) Establish the Electronic Smoking Device Retailer Registration and Enforcement Unit Special Fund;

(4) Amend the fine amounts for persons under twenty-one years of age who purchase or possess tobacco products or electronic smoking devices; and

(5) Appropriate funds to the Department of the Attorney General for positions and equipment needed to carry out the purposes of this measure.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Health, Hawaii State Teachers Association, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Retail Merchants of Hawaii, Hawaii Smokers Alliance, Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Hawai‘i, Smoke-Free Alternatives Trade Association, Namaste Vapors, AlohaCare, VOLCANO Vape Shops, Blue Zones Project, and numerous individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance, Department of the Attorney General, and one individual.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 826, H.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair