Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Health and Labor, to which was referred S.B. No. 3262 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish a new chapter that protects the public health and welfare by prohibiting smoking in public places and places of employment, ensuring a consistent level of basic protections statewide from exposure to secondhand smoke.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Department of Human Resources Development; Department of Accounting and General Services; Hawaii Medical Service Association; American Heart Association; American Lung Association; Coalition for a Tobacco Free Hawaii; Mothers Care for Tomorrow's Children; American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists-District VIII, Hawaii Section; Laborers' International Union of North America-Local 368; Hawaii Women's Coalition; Hawaii County Council; Hawaii Primary Care Association; Hawaii Pacific Health; High Technology Development Corporation; and forty-five individuals.

Your Committees find that exposure to secondhand smoke is a health hazard and causes heart disease, cancer, SIDS, asthma, and other diseases. Thus, it is extremely appropriate to protect innocent non-smokers from these effects by prohibiting smoking in the work place and public places. Your Committees further find that this measure will reflect the most current public health policy relating to secondhand smoke and create a new statewide smoking law to ensure consistent levels of basic public health protections.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Labor that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3262 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs.