CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP

CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. 112

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: S.B. No. 1279

S.D. 2

H.D. 2

C.D. 1

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 1279, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TOBACCO,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to consolidate the tax stamp fees collected for the enforcement of the cigarette tax and tobacco laws with the moneys received for enforcement of the tobacco Master Settlement Agreement, and to further refine the laws relating to the Master Settlement Agreement.

Your Committee on Conference finds that this consolidation and refinement will provide the necessary funding for the Tobacco Enforcement Unit within the Department of the Attorney General.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Making changes to ensure conformance with the Master Settlement Agreement;

(2) Decreasing the proposed ceiling of the tobacco enforcement special fund for the administration and operation of tobacco enforcement activities to $1,000,000 and appropriating $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2003-2004, and $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2004-2005 from the fund for the administration and operation of tobacco enforcement activities; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive changes for style and clarity.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1279, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1279, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ BLAKE K. OSHIRO, Co-Chair		____________________________ ROSALYN BAKER, Co-Chair
____________________________ THOMAS WATERS, Co-Chair		____________________________ COLLEEN HANABUSA, Co-Chair
		____________________________ BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Co-Chair