STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3255

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 1968

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 2

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1968, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CIGARETTES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds for the implementation of the reduced ignition propensity cigarette program.

     Written comments in support of the measure were submitted by the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations and the County of Maui – Department of Fire and Public Safety.

     Your Committee finds that the State Fire Council is charged with implementing the reduced ignition propensity cigarette program.  However, the Council is comprised of only the four county fire chiefs and one part-time staff employee.  Your Committee further finds that this appropriation is needed to hire two full-time staff members to more effectively and efficiently carry out the reduced ignition propensity cigarette program.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the appropriation amounts to unspecified sums to facilitate further discussion on the measure.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1968, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1968, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair