HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP HSEDC 005 03/16/2010 2008-2010REPORT 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
the government does have an interest in regulating the conduct in motor vehicles for safety reasons and
is going to support this bill. He added that the tipping point for him was the health and safety of the
children. Councilmember Hoffinann pronounced his support for the hill also, and admitted that he had
smoked until July 4, 1976.
Councilmember Ikeda stated that he could not support this bill, because cars are private property and
he does not want to regulate what people do with their own private property.
Councilmember Yagong will not be supporting this Bill 216 because he does not believe in legislating
morality or common sense. Councilmember Onishi concurred that it is a "common sense" issue and
people should know not to smoke in cars when there are children present, and therefore could not offer
his support.
Your Committee on Human Service and Economic Development is in accord with the purpose and
intent of Bill 216, and recommends its passage on first reading.
rjh
Respectfully submitted,
COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES
AN CONOMIC9EVELOPMENT
EMILY - OLE- BEASON, CHAIR
I-ISEDC REPORT NO. 05
ADOPTED: APR 0 7 2010
AYES
NOES
A &E
EX
ENRIQUES
X
FORD
X
CREENWELL
X
HOFFMANN
X
IKEDA
X
NAEOLE-
BEASON
X
ONISHI
X
YACONG
X
YOSHIMOTO
X
the government does have an interest in regulating the conduct in motor vehicles for safety reasons and
is going to support this bill. He added that the tipping point for him was the health and safety of the
children. Councilmember Hoffinann pronounced his support for the hill also, and admitted that he had
smoked until July 4, 1976.
Councilmember Ikeda stated that he could not support this bill, because cars are private property and
he does not want to regulate what people do with their own private property.
Councilmember Yagong will not be supporting this Bill 216 because he does not believe in legislating
morality or common sense. Councilmember Onishi concurred that it is a "common sense" issue and
people should know not to smoke in cars when there are children present, and therefore could not offer
his support.
Your Committee on Human Service and Economic Development is in accord with the purpose and
intent of Bill 216, and recommends its passage on first reading.
rjh
Respectfully submitted,
COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES
AN CONOMIC9EVELOPMENT
EMILY - OLE- BEASON, CHAIR
I-ISEDC REPORT NO. 05
ADOPTED: APR 0 7 2010