STAND. COM. REP. NO.  187

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

RE:   H.B. No. 1509

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 1509 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SMOKING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to protect the health and safety of those who frequent one of the state's most visited destinations and most prized attractions, Waikiki Beach, by prohibiting smoking:

(1)  Between the sidewalk abutting Kalakaua Avenue and the ocean; and

(2)  Within the length of the properties currently known as the Ilikai Hotel to the New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel,

while still allowing smoking on the public sidewalks and on private property in the area.

     The Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Hawaii supported this bill.  Several concerned individuals opposed this measure.

     You Committee has amended this bill by:

(1)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2020, to encourage further discussion; and

(2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive changes for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1509, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1509, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Water, Land, & Ocean Resources.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,

____________________________

RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair