HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	605
TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2011		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the state fire council needs to employ an administrator and an assistant to administer, enforce, inspect, and provide oversight for the reduced ignition propensity cigarette program under chapter 132C, Hawaii Revised Statutes.  The fees collected pursuant to the reduced ignition propensity cigarette program are intended to be used by the state fire council, are renewable every three years, and since the program was implemented on September 30, 2009, amount to nearly $370,000.

     The purpose of this Act is to create a reduced ignition propensity cigarette special fund to assist the state fire council to carry out its statutory duties.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 132C, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§132C-   Reduced ignition propensity cigarette program special fund. (a) There is established in the state treasury the reduced ignition propensity cigarette program special fund into which shall be deposited moneys collected pursuant to section 132C-4 and legislative appropriations.  All interest earned or accrued on moneys deposited in the fund shall become part of the fund.

(b)  Moneys in the reduced ignition propensity cigarette program special fund shall be administered and expended by the state fire council to defray the actual cost of activities and requirements of section 132C-4 by employing one full-time administrator and one full-time assistant whose duties shall include:

(1) Adopting administrative rules for program implementation, establishing compliance inspections, and approving forms and enforcement procedures and guidelines;

(2) Receiving, verifying, and approving certifications for approximately six hundred different brands and styles of cigarettes from the manufacturers;

(3) Compiling a list of the approved brands, verifying tax stamp compliance with the department of the attorney general, and posting the list on a state website;

(4) Reviewing and approving, as needed, any alternative test methods or fire standard compliance markings submitted by the manufacturer; and

(5) Submitting compliance tests to an accredited laboratory to verify that performance standards have been met, if needed."

     SECTION 3.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2011.

Report Title:

Fire Protection; Reduced Ignition Propensity Cigarette Program Special Fund

Description:

Establishes the Reduced Ignition Propensity Cigarette Program Special Fund to be funded by fees collected from cigarette manufacturers to administer and provide staff for the Reduced Ignition Propensity Cigarette Program.  Authorizes the State Fire Council to employ administrative staff.  Effective July 1, 2011.  (HB605 HD1)

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