STAND. COM. REP. NO.869

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: S.B. No. 889

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Health and Transportation, Military Affairs, and Government Operations, to which was referred S.B. No. 889 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO INTOXICATING LIQUOR,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require premises licensed to sell intoxicating liquor to post signs warning that the consumption of alcohol impairs one's ability to drive a car and may cause birth defects.

Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Hawaii and an individual submitted testimony supporting this measure. Comments on this measure were provided by Faith Against Drugs.

Your Committees find that each year, more than 40,000 babies are born with some degree of alcohol-related effects. Even low levels of drinking can lead to deficiencies in information-processing by infants. Drinking while pregnant is the nation's leading cause of preventable birth defects which affects a lifetime, and costs an estimated $588,000 per child in direct and indirect costs. Simple warnings like those provided by this measure could help to reduce the unwanted effects and costs of mothers who drink alcoholic beverages while pregnant.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Transportation, Military Affairs, and Government Operations that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 889 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Health and Transportation, Military Affairs, and Government Operations,

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CAL KAWAMOTO, Chair

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ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair