THE SENATE

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

THE THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE

INTERIM OF 2019

COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, CONSUMER PROTECTION, AND HEALTH

Senator Rosalyn H. Baker, Chair

Senator Stanley Chang, Vice Chair

Sen. Jarrett Keohokalole	Sen. Laura H. Thielen
Sen. Clarence K. Nishihara	Sen. Kurt Fevella
Sen. Russell E. Ruderman

COMMITTEE ON CONSUMER PROTECTION & COMMERCE

Rep. Roy M. Takumi, Chair

Rep. Linda Ichiyama, Vice Chair

Rep. Henry J.C. Aquino	Rep. Sam Satoru Kong
Rep. Della Au Belatti	Rep. John M. Mizuno
Rep. Rida Cabanilla Arakawa	Rep. Richard H.K. Onishi
Rep. Romy M. Cachola	Rep. Lauren Matsumoto
Rep. Sharon E. Har

NOTICE OF INFORMATIONAL BRIEFING

DATE:	Thursday, October 17, 2019
TIME:	10:00 AM
PLACE:	Conference Room 309 State Capitol 415 South Beretania Street

A G E N D A

SEEKING SOLUTIONS TO END THE YOUTH VAPING EPIDEMIC

There has been a dramatic increase in use of electronic smoking devices by Hawai'i's youth. Youth vaping is a serious public health issue. Only 4.7 percent of Hawaiʻi adults report current use of electronic smoking devices as compared to 26 percent of Hawaiʻi public high school students with rates up to 34 percent for neighbor islands. This is twice the national vaping proportion of 13 percent. Moreover, overall U.S. youth vaping surged 78 percent in just one year between 2017 and 2018.

The lack of federal regulation has allowed the tobacco industry and electronic smoking device industry to significantly increase the introduction and marketing of flavored non-cigarette tobacco products, especially electronic smoking devices. The U.S. Surgeon General, Food & Drug Administration, and the CDC have since urged states to take action. They are prompting state and local jurisdictions to protect children from a lifetime of nicotine addiction and associated health risks by immediately addressing the epidemic of youth e-cigarette use.

Hawai‘i has experienced a heightened promotion of vape products that offer candy and local flavors specifically designed to appeal to the State's youth.  These flavors include candy, fruit, chocolate, mint, Kona coffee, Maui mango, shaka strawberry, and Moloka‘i hot bread.  Additionally, many of the packages are designed to look like popular kids’ candies, such as Jolly Ranchers and Sour Patch Kids. 

In this informational briefing, Hawai‘i speakers will be presenting on the growing local and national problem associated with youth e-cigarette use and two experts will speak on the current commerce, regulation, and policy trends of flavored tobacco and menthol, and its effects on public health, especially as it relates to youth. 

BRIEFING SPEAKERS

Update on Vaping Epidemic by the Department of the Attorney General

Hawaii's Youth Vaping Epidemic presentation by the Department of Health

Update on the Cases of Severe Pulmonary Disease Associated with E-Cigarette Use presentation by Dr. Bryan Mih, MD MPH FAAP, pediatrician and Medical Director for Kapiolani Smokefree Families

Targeting of Youth Through Marketing & Sales presentation by Samantha Domingo, Farrington High School student and Hawai‘i Public Health Institute Youth Council Member

The Truth About Tobacco Economics presentation by Dr. Frank Chaloupka, Research Professor at Institute for Health Research and Policy, University of Illinois at Chicago

San Francisco's Flavor Ban - Implementation and Enforcement of E-Cigarette Regulation Laws presentation by Dr. Valerie Yerger, naturopathic doctor and Associate Professor at Center for Tobacco Control Research & Education, University of California, San Francisco

No public testimony will be accepted.

If you require auxiliary aids or services to participate in the public hearing process (i.e., interpretive services (oral or written), ASL interpreter, or wheelchair accessibility), please contact the committee clerk at least 24 hours prior to the hearing so that arrangements can be made.

For further information, please call the Committee Clerk at 586-6070.

_____________________________________ Rep. Roy M. Takumi Chair	_____________________________________ Senator Rosalyn H. Baker Chair
_____________________________________ Rep. Scott K. Saiki Speaker of the House	_____________________________________ Senator Ronald D. Kouchi President of the Senate