STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2253

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 2056

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 2056 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to limit obesity and improve healthy options for children and parents by requiring restaurants to offer a healthy option as the default beverage for any children's meal combination.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Insurance Division, Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Hawaii Public Health Association, Hawaii Primary Care Association, Hawaii Public Health Institute, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Tiki's Grill & Bar, American Heart Association, a petition with ninety-seven signatures, and twenty-seven individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaii Restaurant Association.

 

     Your Committee finds that sugar-sweetened beverages alone make up to nine percent of the calories that children consume daily, and that medical evidence suggests that consumption of sugar sweetened beverages is linked to obesity.  Your Committee finds that making a healthier beverage the default option will reduce consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages without restricting consumer freedom or significantly impacting the restaurant industry.

 

     Your Committee has heard concerns from the Department of Health and Hawaii Primary Care Association that the enforcement provision in this measure is superfluous given existing departmental enforcement authority, and may serve only to worsen ties between the Department of Health and the restaurant industry.

 

     Your Committee has also heard the request from the Hawaii Restaurant Association to add an option for a small amount of fruit juice as another default beverage choice.  Your Committee finds that this change is in accord with the intent and purpose of this measure, and will improve the rate of and reduce the costs of compliance.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Adding a six ounce or smaller serving of one hundred percent fruit juice as an additional option for a default beverage;

 

     (2)  Deleting the proposed section 321-C, Hawaii Revised Statutes, which provided for enforcement; and

 

     (3)  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 Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2056, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2056, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

 


Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health,

 

 

 

________________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair