STAND. COM. REP. NO. 904

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 982

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. 982, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FUNDING FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TOBACCO ENFORCEMENT UNIT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to stabilize and increase funding for the Tobacco Enforcement Unit within the Department of the Attorney General by:

(1) Amending the amount of funds that the Tobacco Enforcement Special Fund may carry over at the end of each fiscal year;

(2) Increasing the Cigarette Tax Stamp Fee and the percentage of that fee allotted to the Tobacco Enforcement Special Fund; and

(3) Amending the sum of monies received from the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement annual payment to the Tobacco Enforcement Special Fund.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Department of Taxation, Hawai‘i Primary Care Association, Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Hawai‘i, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, and one individual. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii Smokers Alliance and three individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General and Tax Foundation of Hawaii.

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. 982, 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