Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2503, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to prohibit the sale and distribution of flavored cigarette products.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Attorney General, the Department of Health, the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association, the American Lung Association, and the Coalition for a Tobacco Free Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that there is concern about smoking by Hawaii's children. Flavored cigarettes are particularly attractive to children because the flavor names are similar to flavor names for products such as drinks, candies, and other products marketed to children. The use of similar flavor names may entice children to try cigarettes that have flavors with which they are familiar. Flavored cigarettes encourage children to begin using tobacco products, starting them down the path to tobacco use at an early age and setting the stage for serious health problems.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2503, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.