STAND. COM. REP. NO. 180-04

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2004

RE: H.B. No. 1865

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 1865 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE RESTORATION OF FULL FUNDING FOR HEALTHY HAWAII INITIATIVE FROM THE TOBACCO SETTLEMENT FUNDS AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS FOR HEALTHY START HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to restore full funding to the Healthy Hawaii Initiative (HHI) from the Tobacco Settlement Fund (Fund), and to appropriate general funds for Hawaii's Healthy Start Program home visit services.

The Department of Health, American Heart Association, Parents and Children Together, and Coalition for a Tobacco Free Hawaii testified in support of this bill.

HHI is a statewide educational campaign that provides the people of Hawaii with information on how to live healthy through physical activity, nutrition, and tobacco prevention. The redirection of funds in the 2003-2004 fiscal year severely impacted HHI. Use of the Fund for HHI is an appropriate use in keeping with the intent of defraying future healthcare costs for tobacco-related illnesses.

 

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 H.B. No. 1865 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

 

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

 

____________________________

DENNIS A. ARAKAKI, Chair