STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1636-06

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2006

RE: S.B. No. 2961

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 2961, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to discourage smoking, especially by young people, and to improve the health and safety of the people of Hawaii by:

(1) Increasing the excise tax on cigarettes for three consecutive years; and

(2) Allocating the cigarette tax revenues to support:

(A) Research and operating expenses of the John A. Burns School of Medicine;

(B) Emergency medical services statewide;

(C) Trauma care resources; and

(D) Community health centers statewide.

 

The Department of Health, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Hawaii Primary Care Association, American Lung Association of Hawaii, High Technology Development Corporation, Hawaii Pacific Health, The Queen's Medical Center, Hawaii Venture Capital Association, and several concerned individuals testified in support of this bill. The American Heart Association of Hawaii supported the intent of this measure. The University of Hawaii, Cancer Research Center of Hawai'i, Coalition for a Tobacco Free Hawaii, American Cancer Society, Hawaii Science and Technology Council, Hawaii Biotech, Inc., ECG Management Consultants, Inc., Clinical Laboratories of Hawaii, LLP, and numerous concerned individuals supported this bill with amendments. The Tax Foundation of Hawaii and Hawaii Community Development Authority provided comments.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2961, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

 

____________________________

DWIGHT TAKAMINE, Chair