STAND. COM. REP. NO. 579-20

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2020

RE: H.B. No. 1956

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Lower & Higher Education and Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 1956 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TOBACCO,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require persons eighteen years and older but under twenty-one who use tobacco at a public school or public school function attend a tobacco education course;

(2) Require persons under eighteen years of age who use tobacco at a public school or public school function to attend a tobacco education course accompanied by their parent or guardian; and

(3) Establish a fee to offset the cost of the courses.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Primary Care Association; American Academy of Pediatrics, Hawaii Chapter; Hawaii Public Health Institute; Blue Zones Project; and fifteen individuals. Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from three individuals. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Education and Department of Health.

Your Committees find that one of the Department of Education's priorities is the safety and well-being of all students. This measure helps to carry out that priority by protecting the health of students from tobacco use.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Reverting the title of section 302A-102, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to read "Smoking prohibited.";

(2) Clarifying that the prohibition on the use of tobacco includes the smoking of tobacco and the use of chewing tobacco;

(3) Deleting language requiring any person under the age of eighteen who uses tobacco at a public school or public school function to have a parent or guardian accompany the person to a tobacco education course;

(4) Deleting language requiring a $25 fee to offset the cost of the tobacco education course;

(5) Deleting the definition of "tobacco";

(6) Inserting a definition for "chewing tobacco";

(7) Adding language which appropriates funds in an unspecified amount to the Department of Education for tobacco education courses;

(8) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050; and

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

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Lower & Higher Education and Health that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1956, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1956, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Lower & Higher Education and Health,

____________________________ JOHN M. MIZUNO, Chair

____________________________ JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair