STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2850

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                

 

RE:    S.B. No. 2304

       S.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2304, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TOBACCO,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to reduce the use of tobacco products among youth.

 

     More specifically, the measure prohibits the issuance and renewal of retail tobacco permits and the sale of tobacco products within five hundred feet of schools and playgrounds used extensively by minors.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the County of Kauai Office of the Prosecuting Attorney; Blue Zones Project-Hawaii; Hawaii Public Health Association; Hawaii Public Health Institute; OCC Legislative Priorities Committee, Democratic Party of Hawaii; Papa Ola Lokahi; Pioneering Healthier Communities of Honolulu; and numerous individuals.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from Black Lava Vape, Cigar Rights of America, Hawaii Food Industry Association, Minit Stop Stores, Mokuleia Cigar Company, PCG Enterprises LLC, VOLCANO Fine Electronic Cigarettes, and six individuals.

 

     Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General, Department of Health, and Department of Taxation.

 

     Your Committee finds that while youth walk or ride to school or playgrounds, they may see advertisements for tobacco products and electronic smoking devices or notice those products for sale at locations, including convenience stores, grocery stores, and gas stations, that are near the schools or playgrounds.  Your Committee recognizes that several jurisdictions in the United States have established tobacco retail buffer zones, in which tobacco products are not authorized to be sold in retail stores located within a certain distance of a school or playground.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

 

     (2)  Making technical nonsubstantive changes for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2304, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2304, S.D. 2.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

 

 

 

 

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair