STAND. COM. REP. NO. 521-04
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2004
RE: H.B. No. 2844
H.D. 1
Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twenty-Second State Legislature
Regular Session of 2004
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2844 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CRYSTAL METHAMPHETAMINE,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this bill is to alleviate the devastating impacts of crystal methamphetamine on public health. Among other things, this bill:
(1) Establishes the Crystal Methamphetamine Treatment and Prevention Special Fund (Special Fund);
(2) Allocates one-half cent of the excise tax collected on each cigarette sold, used, or possessed by a wholesaler or dealer, scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2004, to the Special Fund; and
(3) Requires that moneys from the Special Fund be used to fund programs and services for the treatment and prevention of crystal methamphetamine use.
The Coalition for a Tobacco Free Hawaii, Coalition for a Drug Free Hawaii, Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition, National Association of Social Workers-Hawaii Chapter, Community Alliance of Prisons, Aloha House Substance Abuse Treatment Center on Maui, and a Hawaii County Councilmember testified in support of the bill. The American Heart Association and American Lung Association supported the intent of this measure. The Department of Taxation, Hawaii Hotel and Lodging Association, Hawaii Food Industry Association, and Hawaii Society-Sons of the American Revolution opposed the measure. The Tax Foundation of Hawaii commented on this bill.
Your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2010, to facilitate further discussion; and
(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2844, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2844, H.D. 1.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,
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____________________________ DWIGHT Y. TAKAMINE, Chair |
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