Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2153, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the University of Hawaii to repay funds it received from the Hawaii Tobacco Settlement Special Fund.

Your Committee has amended this measure by deleting its contents and replacing it with language from S.B. Nos. 2150, 2154, and 3235.

Your Committee finds that it is necessary to develop sources of revenue to combat the plague of crystal methamphetamine use that afflicts Hawaii. Your Committee believes that the tax on tobacco, a gateway to drug use, is an appropriate and effective way to raise funds for treatment and prevention programs. In order to ensure that these funds are wisely spent, substance abuse prevention programs should be evidence-based and meet rigorous testing standards in laboratory, clinical, and community settings. To reach the widest possible audience, treatment programs must be open to patients with children and offer family counseling.

As amended, the purpose of this measure is to improve the State's ability to stem the tide of drug use by developing and funding effective drug prevention and treatment programs that assist families, not just individuals. More specifically, the measure:

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2153, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2153, S.D. 2.