HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

860

THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to tobacco.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1. The legislature finds that tobacco products have a negative effect on the human health. Tobacco use remains a leading cause of preventable disease and death in both the United States and in Hawaii. The annual health care costs directly related to tobacco use in this State is estimated to be $526,000,000.

     The legislature also finds that the tobacco industry spends an estimated $26,000,000 on marketing in Hawaii. This represents a major obstacle, as the State does not spend nearly the same amount in addressing tobacco prevention and control program.

     The legislature further finds that human brains continue development far after reaching twenty-one years of age. Many brains do not fully develop until twenty-five years of age. Tobacco has a long and proven track record of affecting human development; this is an undisputed fact. In order to protect public health, it is necessary to increase the minimum age for possession and use of tobacco products.

     The purpose of this Act is to raise the minimum legal age to purchase or use tobacco products from twenty-one to twenty-five.

     SECTION 2. Section 321-212, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"    [§321-212]  Tobacco products; possession or consumption prohibited.  Possession or consumption of a tobacco product by a person under [twenty-one] twenty-five years of age in a public place shall be prohibited."

     SECTION 3. Section 321-213, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "[§321-213]  Exemptions.  This part shall not apply to:

     (1)  Any person under [twenty-one] twenty-five years of age, with parental authorization, who is participating in a controlled purchase as part of a law enforcement activity or a study authorized by the department of health under the supervision of law enforcement to determine the level of incidence of tobacco sales to persons under [twenty-one] years of age; or

     (2)  Possession of tobacco products by a person under [twenty-one] twenty-five years of age in the course of delivery, pursuant to the direction of the person's employer lawfully engaged in business necessitating the delivery."

     SECTION 4. Section 712-1258, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§712-1258  Tobacco products and electronic smoking devices; persons under [twenty-one] twenty-five years of age.  (1)  It shall be unlawful to sell or furnish a tobacco product in any shape or form or an electronic smoking device to a person under [twenty-one] twenty-five years of age.

     (2)  All persons engaged in the retail sale of tobacco products or electronic smoking devices shall check the identification of tobacco product or electronic smoking device purchasers to establish the age of the purchaser if the purchaser reasonably appears to be under twenty-seven years of age.

     (3)  It shall be an affirmative defense that the seller of a tobacco product or an electronic smoking device to a person under [twenty-one] twenty-five years of age in violation of this section had requested, examined, and reasonably relied upon a photographic identification from the person establishing that person's age as at least [twenty-one] twenty-five years of age prior to selling the person a tobacco product or an electronic smoking device.  The failure of a seller to request and examine photographic identification from a person under [twenty-one] twenty-five years of age prior to the sale of a tobacco product or an electronic smoking device to the person shall be construed against the seller and form a conclusive basis for the seller's violation of this section.

     (4)  Signs using the statement, "The sale of tobacco products or electronic smoking devices to persons under [twenty-one] twenty-five is prohibited", shall be posted on or near any vending machine in letters at least one-half inch high and at or near the point of sale of any other location where tobacco products or electronic smoking devices are sold in letters at least one-half inch high.

     (5)  It shall be unlawful for a person under [twenty-one years] twenty-five of age to purchase or possess any tobacco product or electronic smoking device, as those terms are defined in subsection (7).  This provision does not apply if a person under the age of [twenty-one] twenty-five, with parental authorization, is participating in a controlled purchase as part of a law enforcement activity or a study authorized by the department of health under the supervision of law enforcement to determine the level of incidence of tobacco or electronic smoking devices sales to persons under [twenty-one] twenty-five years of age.

     (6)  Any person who violates subsection (1) or (4), or both, shall be fined $500 for the first offense.  Any subsequent offenses shall subject the person to a fine not less than $500 nor more than $2,000.  Any person under [twenty-one] twenty-five years of age who violates subsection (5) shall be fined $10 for the first offense.  Any subsequent offense shall subject the violator to a fine of $50, no part of which shall be suspended, or the person shall be required to perform not less than forty-eight hours nor more than seventy-two hours of community service during hours when the person is not employed and is not attending school.  Any tobacco product or electronic smoking device, as those terms are defined in subsection (7), in the person's possession at the time of violation of subsection (5) shall be seized, summarily forfeited to the State, and destroyed by law enforcement following the conclusion of an administrative or judicial proceeding finding that a violation of subsection (5) has been committed.  The procedures set forth in chapter 712A shall not apply to this subsection.

     (7)  For the purposes of this section:

     "Electronic smoking device" means any electronic product that can be used to aerosolize and deliver nicotine or other substances to the person inhaling from the device, including but not limited to an electronic cigarette, electronic cigar, electronic cigarillo, or electronic pipe, and any cartridge or other component of the device or related product.

     "Tobacco product" means any product made or derived from tobacco that contains nicotine or other substances and is intended for human consumption or is likely to be consumed, whether smoked, heated, chewed, absorbed, dissolved, inhaled, or ingested by other means.  "Tobacco product" includes but is not limited to a cigarette, cigar, pipe tobacco, chewing tobacco, snuff, snus, or an electronic smoking device.  "Tobacco product" does not include drugs, devices, or combination products approved for sale by the United States Food and Drug Administration, as those terms are defined in the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act."

     SECTION 5.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 6.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Legal age for tobacco use and possession; Raise legal age.

 

Description:

Raises legal age for tobacco use and possession from twenty-one to twenty-five.

 

 

 

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