STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1508

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 586

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 586, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO USE OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS AND E-CIGARETTES ON HAWAII HEALTH SYSTEMS CORPORATION PREMISES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to prohibit the use of tobacco and electronic smoking devices at Hawaii Health Systems Corporation facilities.

     Specifically, this measure requires the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation to:

(1)  Prohibit the use of tobacco products and electronic smoking devices at its health facilities;

(2)  Provide tobacco cessation programs for its employees;

(3)  Consult with the exclusive representatives of the collective bargaining units of its employees regarding the prohibition on the use of tobacco products and electronic smoking devices;

(4)  Educate personnel, contractors, patients, and visitors on the prohibition of the use of tobacco and electronic smoking devices; and

(5)  Place signs stating that "tobacco and electronic smoking device use is prohibited" at various locations throughout its health facilities.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, East Hawaii Region of Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Hawaii, American Heart Association, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, and one individual.  Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from ninety-three individuals.

     Your Committee finds that prohibiting the use of tobacco and electronic smoking devices at Hawaii Health Systems Corporation facilities would set an example of promoting positive and healthy practices.  Additionally, this measure will help to ensure that patients, employees, and visitors to the Corporation's facilities are protected from the dangers of secondhand smoke.

     Your Committee further finds that the tobacco cessation programs required by this measure would be duplicative of those offered by the Hawaii Tobacco Quitline.  Since 2005, the Hawaii Tobacco Quitline has helped over twenty-two thousand people stop smoking.  On a monthly basis, the Hawaii Tobacco Quitline receives four hundred calls requesting help.  Your Committee believes that the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation employees who desire to stop smoking would be adequately served by the Hawaii Tobacco Quitline services that are already available.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by deleting the requirement that the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation provide tobacco cessation programs.

     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. 586, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 586, H.D. 2, S.D. 1.

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

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair