REP HSEDC 005 03/16/2010 2008-2010

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REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DATE: March 16, 2010 Re: Comm. 732: Bill 216 PLACE: Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort and Spa 78 -128 Ehukai Street Kailua -Kona, Hawaii TIME: 9:00 a.m. Council Chair and Members Hawai'i County Council Hilo, I- Iawai'i 96720 The Committee on Human Services and Economic Development to which was referred Bill 216 reports as follows: Bill 216 transmitted by Councilmember Emily I. Naeole- Beason via Communication 732, dated March 3, 2010, amends Chapter 14, Article 4, Section 14 -21 of the I- Iawai`i County Code 1983 (2005 Edition, as amended), Relating to Prohibition of Smoking in Certain Places, adds motor vehicles whenever a minor is present to the list of places. There were seven public testifiers in support and only one person who spoke in opposition. Chair Naeole- Beason relinquished her chair to Vice Chair Dominic Yagong so she could speak in support of Bill 216: She explained that we have laws prohibiting smoking in bars, planes, offices and most public places. These laws protect adults from second -hand smoke but they do not protect children in vehicles when adults smoke. Councilmember Naeole- Beason said, "We must take a stand for the children." Second -hand smoke, she continued, causes asthma and ear infections in children, and it can causes children to become addicted themselves; this is why she introduced this Bill 216. Councilmember Ford said she will be supporting this bill because of her first hand experience as a child of parents who smoked in their vehicle. She further stated that children have no voice or choice of being in a vehicle when adults choose to smoke. Councilmember Onishi inquired if the American Cancer Society has educational programs at the elementary schools and was informed that it has no direct contact with the DOE but works in collaboration with Coalition for Tobacco Free 1- Iawai`i. Councilmember Greenwell then stated that he would be supporting this bill and adamantly added, "We should start the education process right here by all of us supporting this Bill." Councilmember Enriques also said he would be supporting this because we have already gone there as legislators by supporting a ban on cell phones while driving. He also added it was awful to "see a person in the car in front of you smoking while they have kids in the car." Councilmember Yoshimoto explained that this was a hard issue for him despite his past legislation, because parks are a public place while cars are your own personal property. However, he believes that HSEDC RPT 05