STAND. COM. REP. NO.  657-12

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2012

RE:   H.B. No. 46

      H.D. 2

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 46, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC HOUSING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to improve the living environment in public housing projects and state low-income housing projects by prohibiting smoking in the enclosed or partially enclosed common areas of these projects.  This measure also permits the eviction of a tenant, licensee, or other occupant upon a third violation of this law.

The Hawaii Public Housing Authority and Coalition for a Tobacco-free Hawaii supported this bill.  The Department of Health supported the intent of this measure.  A concerned individual provided comments.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Requiring the Hawaii Public Housing Authority to adopt rules expanding the areas to which the smoking prohibition will apply within eighteen months of the bill's enactment;

     (2)  Changing its effective date to January 7, 2059, to encourage further discussion; and

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 46, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 46, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

GILBERT KEITH-AGARAN, Chair