STAND. COM. REP. NO.  452

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1527

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committees on Health and Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 1527 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TOBACCO,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to continue to discourage the use of tobacco products which causes numerous ill health effects by:

 

(1)  Raising the tax on tobacco products other than cigarettes; and

 

(2)  Allocating a percentage of revenues collected on tobacco products for use in cervical and breast cancer screening and the Department of Health's (DOH) Healthy Start Program.

 

     The Hawaii Primary Care Association, Hawaii Family Support Institute, American Cancer Society Hawaii Pacific, Inc., Child & Family Services, Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Hawaii, Parents and Children Together's Hana Like Home Visitor Program, Papa Ola Lokahi, Maui Family Support Services, and several concerned individuals supported this bill.  The American Heart Association supported the intent of this measure.  The Cigar Association of America, Tobaccos of Hawaii, and a concerned individual opposed this bill.  The Tax Foundation of Hawaii submitted comments.

 


     Your Committees have amended this bill by:

 

(1)  Changing the effective date to January 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

 

(2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Human Services that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1527, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1527, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Health and Human Services,

 

 

____________________________

JOHN M. MIZUNO, Chair

 

____________________________

RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair