STAND. COM. REP. NO. 168-20

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2020

RE: H.B. No. 2507

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 2507 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to reduce the harmful effects that smoking has on society by:

(1) Prohibiting the sale or furnishing of tobacco products, including electronic smoking devices, to persons under twenty-five years of age;

(2) Increasing the minimum age for purchases and possession of tobacco products, including electronic smoking devices, to twenty-five years of age; and

(3) Increasing the fines for persons under twenty-five years of age who purchase or possess tobacco products, including electronic smoking devices.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Hawaii Pacific Health, Hawaii Primary Care Association, Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Hawaii, Hawaii Petroleum Marketers Association, and six individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii Food Industry Association, Retail Merchants of Hawaii, Hawaii Smokers Alliance, and eight individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the American Heart Association.

Your Committee notes that the Department of Health and American Heart Association requested in testimony for the increased fines for purchase or possession of tobacco products by persons under twenty-five years of age to be removed. According to this testimony, penalizing minors and young adults is not nationally recommended because it punishes and stigmatizes these individuals, particularly individuals of color, who are marketed tobacco and tobacco products, including electronic smoking devices, while deflecting responsibility from tobacco companies.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) 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. 2507, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2507, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

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

____________________________

JOHN M. MIZUNO, Chair