STAND. COM. REP. NO.  426

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   H.B. No. 404

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 404 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WARNING SIGNS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to raise awareness of the risks of birth defects from alcohol consumption during pregnancy by requiring licensed premises under the State's intoxicating liquor law, chapter 281, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to post a sign in the premises containing and notifying  customers and others of the risks of birth defects for women drinking alcoholic beverages during pregnancy.

The Department of Health, Family Voices of Hawaii, and March of Dimes, Hawaii Chapter supported this measure.  The Hawaii Restaurant Association opposed this measure.  The Department of Accounting and General Services commented on this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1)  Requiring the liquor commissions, rather than the Comptroller, to determine the size of the printed words on the signs;

(2)  Changing its effective date to January 1, 2050, to further continued discussion; and

(3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of 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. 404, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 404, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

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

____________________________

DELLA AU BELATTI, Chair