STAND. COM. REP. NO.  439

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2011

RE:   H.B. No. 98

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Economic Revitalization & Business, to which was referred H.B. No. 98 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TOBACCO,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to make it unlawful for minors to possess or use tobacco products, excepting minors engaged in delivery of tobacco products for an employer lawfully engaged in business necessitating that delivery, among other exceptions.  In addition to a fine, the bill also provides that a minor may be required to perform community service for a subsequent offense.

     The Honolulu Police Department and Democratic Party of Hawaii submitted testimony in support of this bill.  The American Cancer Society supported the intent of this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing its effective date to July 1, 2112, to encourage further discussion.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Economic Revitalization & Business that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 98, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 98, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Economic Revitalization & Business,

____________________________

ANGUS L.K. MCKELVEY, Chair