REPORT TITLE:
Tobacco Settlement


DESCRIPTION:
Creates a special fund from tobacco litigation settlements and
awards to fund healthy living programs under the department of
health.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                        
THE SENATE                              S.B. NO.           167
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 1999                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                   A  BILL  FOR  AN  ACT

RELATING TO HEALTH. 


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

 1      SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the most costly
 
 2 social problems have roots in childhood, particularly during the
 
 3 formative years from birth to school age.  Studies in early brain
 
 4 development reveal that the human brain is literally being wired,
 
 5 almost like a computer being programmed, during the first three
 
 6 years of life with the first year being the most critical.  The
 
 7 legislature further finds that parental nurturing is the
 
 8 ingredient that promotes healthy growth and development.  One
 
 9 study noted that by age three, a child who is abused or neglected
 
10 bears scars that are virtually impossible to erase.  Other
 
11 current studies that have looked at risk factors generally agree
 
12 that multiple risk factors usually combine to create adverse
 
13 outcomes.
 
14      The legislature further finds that Hawaii spends significant
 
15 funds dealing with "rotten outcomes" of childhood.  These costs
 
16 are building and operating correctional facilities for youths and
 
17 adults, supporting extremely emotionally disturbed children in
 
18 expensive residential treatment programs, treatment and group
 
19 homes for acting out youth, adult and children mental health
 

 
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                                     S.B. NO.           167
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1 services, remedial education services, police systems, and the
 
 2 like.  Social costs are incurred in disrupted classrooms and
 
 3 unsafe schools, streets, and communities, and increasing violent
 
 4 crimes against tourists.  Homelessness is associated with mental
 
 5 illness for many people in Hawaii.
 
 6      The legislature further finds that early intervention
 
 7 services with young children at risk are an obvious long term
 
 8 solution to the problem of increasing social costs which could be
 
 9 averted if addressed strategically.  The legislature began a
 
10 movement in this direction with the Healthy Start program.  In
 
11 addition, there are a range of early intervention services which
 
12 in combination could make a tremendous difference for Hawaii's
 
13 children, state budget, and social environment.
 
14      The purpose of this Act is to establish a healthy living
 
15 special fund from tobacco litigation moneys, to be applied
 
16 towards healthy living programs.
 
17      SECTION 2.  Chapter 321, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended
 
18 by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to
 
19 read as follows:
 
20      "�321-    Healthy living special fund.  There is established
 
21 a healthy living special fund to be administered by the
 
22 department of health.  All moneys received by the State after
 
23 December 1, 1998, and for twenty-five years thereafter from any
 

 
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                                     S.B. NO.           167
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1 settlement or award in any litigation relating to tobacco or
 
 2 other health related matters that the State is a party to, either
 
 3 as a named party or as a class action joinder, shall be deposited
 
 4 into the fund.  Interest only on moneys from the fund shall be
 
 5 used solely to fund statewide programs for healthy living,
 
 6 including but not limited to preventing tobacco and substance
 
 7 abuse, family planning, prenatal and perinatal care, early
 
 8 intervention programs for developmentally delayed or disabled
 
 9 children, home visitation programs for children who are
 
10 environmentally at-risk, early childhood education and care,
 
11 parenting programs, school-based health centers, violence
 
12 prevention programs, and primary care programs."
 
13      SECTION 3.  New statutory material is underscored.
 
14      SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
 
15 
 
16                           INTRODUCED BY:  _______________________