STAND. COM. REP. NO. 202

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2005

RE: H.B. No. 510

H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 510 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SMOKING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to prohibit:

(1) Smoking at public beaches and parks and certain

recreational areas; and

(2) Disposal of smoking waste in any place where smoking is

prohibited, except in a designated waste disposal container, and subjects violators to a $250 fine.

The City and County of Honolulu's Department of Parks and Recreation and a member of the community supported this bill. The Department of Health supported the intent of this bill. The Coalition for a Tobacco Free Hawaii provided comments.

Your Committee finds that this bill is necessary to provide a safe, healthy, and smoke-free environment to those using public facilities. This bill also addresses the issue of tobacco products that litter our beautiful beaches and parks, and provides repercussions for those who act irresponsibly by and selfishly littering those areas that are shared by all of Hawaii's residents and visitors. Additionally your committee has amended this bill by:

(1) Prohibiting smoking in:

(A) All areas of state airports; and

(B) All areas of public and private healthcare

facilities.

(2) Repealing provisions of chapter 328K, Hawaii Revised

Statutes, that allow smoking in small businesses and retail stores.

Your Committee has also made technical, nonsubstantive amendments to this bill for style and clarity.

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. 510, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 510, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Water, Land, & Ocean Resources.

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

 

____________________________

DENNIS A. ARAKAKI, Chair