Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 40 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to provide a healthy work environment by establishing a policy of the Legislature that smoking shall not be permitted in the State Capitol building in its entirety, including:

(1) The entire basement and basement parking spaces;

(2) All rooms; and

A concerned individual testified in support of this concurrent resolution.

Your Committee finds that smoking in the United States results in approximately $97,200,000,000 each year in health costs and lost productivity. Smoking is directly responsible for 87 percent of lung cancer cases and causes most cases of emphysema and chronic bronchitis, as well as numerous other health ailments.

Further, your Committee finds that workplaces nationwide are adopting smoke-free policies to provide clean indoor air and protect employees from the life-threatening effects of secondhand smoke.

For all of the foregoing reasons, your Committee finds that a policy should be established to make the State Capitol a smoke-free environment to protect the health of workers and visitors.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 40 and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Legislative Management.