STAND. COM. REP. NO. 731
Honolulu, Hawaii
RE: S.B. No. 550
S.D. 1
Honorable Donna Mercado Kim
President of the Senate
Twenty-Eighth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2015
State of Hawaii
Madam:
Your Committee on Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred S.B. No. 550, S.D. 1, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose and intent of this measure is to prohibit the possession or consumption of tobacco products, including electronic smoking devices, by persons under eighteen years old in public places.
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from seven individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Health, American Heart Association, Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Hawaii, and seven individuals.
Your Committee finds that smoking and tobacco use remain the leading cause of preventable illness and death in Hawaii. According to Department of Health testimony, each year smoking and tobacco use causes over 1,200 deaths and results in over $526,000,000 in economic losses in the State. Nationally, the tobacco industry spends over $8,500,000,000 annually on advertising and promotions — $27,000,000 of which is spent in Hawaii. The tobacco industry continues to market its products with images and messages that strongly resonate among children and is aggressively increasing electronic smoking device advertising to youth. By prohibiting minors' access to tobacco products, this measure helps to prevent early addictions to tobacco products and the health consequences of tobacco use.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Labor that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 550, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary and Labor,
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________________________________ GILBERT S.C. KEITH-AGARAN, Chair |
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