STAND. COM. REP. NO. 905

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 672

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 672, H.D. 2, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to reduce the number of minors and youth who smoke by prohibiting the sale of tobacco products and vapor products to minors and the purchase of tobacco products and vapor products by minors.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Hawaii, Volcano Fine Electronic Cigarettes, Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, and numerous individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that vapor products are electronic devices that allow consumption of tobacco products without causing combustion.  Minors are not currently prohibited from purchasing vapor products and your Committee finds that prohibiting the sale of such products to minors and the purchase of such products by minors furthers the State's interest in promoting a healthy lifestyle by reducing the number of minors who smoke.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

 

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

 

     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. 672, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 672, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection.

 

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

 

 

 

____________________________

JOSH GREEN, Chair