HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1940

BYRepresentatives Sprenkle, Valle, Prentice, Leonard, Rust, Nelson, May, Phillips, Wolfe and Brekke

Prohibiting the distribution of samples of tobacco products.

House Committe on Health Care

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (8)

      Signed by Representatives Braddock, Chair; Brooks, Ranking Republican Member; Cantwell, Morris, Prentice, D. Sommers, Sprenkle and Wolfe.

Minority Report:  Do not pass. (1)

      Signed by Representative Vekich.

House Staff:Antonio Sanchez (786-7383)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE FEBRUARY 23, 1989

BACKGROUND:

The distribution, free of charge, of cigarettes, cigars, and other tobacco products intended for tobacco consumption, is not currently regulated in this state.

Free distribution of tobacco product samples is against the law in 10 other states.

SUMMARY:

Distribution, free of charge, of any tobacco products intended for consumption, is illegal.  Penalties and private cause of action are established.

Fiscal Note:      Requested February 14, 1989.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Paul Lovgren, Dr. Bovee, Tobacco Addiction Coordinating Council; Dr. Klatt, Tobacco Addiction Coordinating Council; Terry Burns, Tobacco Addiction Coordinating Council; Eldon Bril, FANS; Bob Fox, FANS; H. Brownie Braunsteiner, Tobacco Addiction Coordinating Council; Jessie Brockmiller, FANS; Janet Chalupnik, American Lung Association; Gary Goldbaum, Washington State Association of Local Public Health Officials and Mike Ryherd, Washington State Medical Association.

House Committee - Testified Against:      Steve Wehrly, Smokeless Tobacco Council; David Remes, Covington & Burling; Kathleen Durkan, Phillip Morris and Bill Fritz, Tobacco Institute.

House Committee - Testimony For:    Prohibiting the use of free cigarette and tobacco product samples will reduce the frequency of nicotine addiction among children and young adults.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      Distribution of free samples is a right guaranteed in federal law and fundamental in a free market system.  There is only sparse evidence linking the distribution of free cigarettes and adolescent smoking.