HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.R. NO. |
287 |
TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2006 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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amending the rules of the house of representatives to prohibit smoking in any area under its jurisdiction.
WHEREAS, one thousand one hundred people die in Hawaii each year because of smoking-related diseases and smoke-related illness and death cost the State about $525,000,000 annually and $200,000,000 in worker productivity; and
WHEREAS, the preface to the Rules of the House of Representatives states that "[i]t is the policy of the House that smoking be prohibited in all enclosed structures of the State Capitol Building, which are under the jurisdiction of the House. "Enclosed" means closed in by a roof and four walls with openings for ingress and egress. Smoking will be permitted on balconies and the first floor of the State Capitol Building."; and
WHEREAS, on April 21, 2006, House and Senate conferees agreed to recommend final passage of Senate Bill 3262 which would establish a new chapter in the Hawaii Revised Statutes that protects the public health and welfare by prohibiting smoking in places open to the public and places of employment, ensuring a consistent level of basic protections statewide from exposure to secondhand smoke; and
WHEREAS, the House should lead by example and act now to protect the health and well-being of its members, its staff, and members of the public using facilities under its jurisdiction; and
WHEREAS, this Resolution proposes an amendment to the House Rules; and
WHEREAS, House Rule 57 provides, in pertinent part, that changes in the House rules shall be taken up as a special order; and
WHEREAS, House Rule 30 provides, in pertinent part, that "[s]pecial orders shall take precedence over all business after the fourth order in the order of business."; and
WHEREAS, House Rule 2 regarding the duties of the Speaker does not authorize the Speaker to refer a resolution proposing a change in the House Rules to a committee; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2006, that the House rules are hereby amended by deleting the third and fourth paragraph of the preface to the rules and by adding a new rule to read as follows (proposed changes underlined):
"61 Smoking shall be prohibited in all areas under the jurisdiction of the House, whether enclosed or not, including balconies and the first floor of the State Capitol Building."; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Resolution shall be debated and decided on the floor of the House of Representatives without reference to committee; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to all members of the House of Representatives.
OFFERED BY: |
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Report Title:
Smoking; State Capitol; House of Representatives