STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1146

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 551

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 551, 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:

(1) Prohibit the sale of flavored tobacco products and the mislabeling of e-liquids as nicotine-free;

(2) Authorize the Department of Health to appoint, commission, or contract for services of inspectors to enforce the flavored tobacco ban; and

(3) Establish and appropriate funds for two full-time equivalent program specialist positions and one full-time equivalent hearings officer position to administer inspections and enforcement.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education, Department of Health, University of Hawai‘i Cancer Center, one member of the Hawai‘i County Council, Hawai‘i Youth Services Network, Hawaii State Teachers Association, Americans for Democratic Action Hawai‘i, Hawaii Primary Care Association, American Heart Association, Ka Ohana O Na Pua, Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Hawai‘i, Pioneering Healthier Communities Initiative, Hawai‘i Children's Action Network Speaks!, Hawai‘i Public Health Association, American Lung Association in Hawai‘i, Keiki Injury Prevention Coalition, Hawaii Association of Independent Schools, Opportunity Youth Action Hawai‘i, Parents and Children Together, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Hawai‘i Health & Harm Reduction Center, Tobacco-Free Kids Action Fund, Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Hawai‘i's Youth Council, Hawaii Dental Association, University of Hawaii Student Health Advisory Council, Hawai‘i State Youth Commission, Parents for Public Schools of Hawai‘i, AlohaCare, Hawai‘i Community Foundation, Save Medicaid Hawaii, Hawaii COPD Coalition, and numerous individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from Aloha Petroleum; Minit Stop; Par Hawaii; Reason Foundation; Consumer Choice Center; Americans for Tax Reform; Hawaii Smokers Alliance; Cigar Association of America, Inc.; Taxpayers Protection Alliance; National Taxpayers Union; and fourteen individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General, National Hookah Community Association, and American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network.

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. 551, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair