STAND. COM. REP. NO. 634

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 134

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred S.B. No. 134 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to prohibit smoking and tobacco use, including use of electronic smoking devices, by any person on University of Hawaii premises.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education, Department of Health, University of Hawai‘i System, University of Hawai‘i at Manoa Lifesaver Club, University of Hawai‘i Student Health Advisory Council, Hawaii Medical Service Association, Hawai‘i Pacific Health, Hawai‘i Public Health Institute Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Hawaii, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, and one hundred nineteen individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the University of Hawaii Professional Assembly, Associated Students of the University of Hawai‘i at Windward Community College, and two individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the University of Hawai‘i Student Caucus.

     Your Committee finds that creating tobacco-free campuses is a growing trend in the United States.  The American Nonsmokers' Rights Foundation reports that as of January 2, 2017, 1,468 colleges and universities across the United States had adopted policies that require one hundred percent tobacco-free campuses.  A rapidly growing number of campuses, 1,331 as of January 2, 2017, also prohibit the use of electronic smoking devices anywhere on campus.  Your Committee further finds that establishing a tobacco-free policy on University of Hawaii System premises will demonstrate Hawaii's continued commitment toward healthy living and learning.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Inserting an effective date of January 7, 2059, to encourage further discussion; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Labor that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 134, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 134, S.D. 1.

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

________________________________

GILBERT S.C. KEITH-AGARAN, Chair