HLS 17RS-2634 ORIGINAL
2017 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 155
BY REPRESENTATIVE HOFFMANN
HEALTH/SMOKING: Requests a study and report on tax-related and health-related issues
associated with vapor products and electronic cigarettes
1 A RESOLUTION
2To urge and request the Louisiana Department of Health to study certain tax-related and
3 health-related issues associated with electronic cigarettes and other vapor products,
4 and to report the findings of the study to the House Committee on Ways and Means
5 and the House Committee on Health and Welfare.
6 WHEREAS, smoking-related illnesses and deaths and their associated human and
7economic costs represent a devastating public health problem across the United States; and
8 WHEREAS, smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in our state and
9nation; and
10 WHEREAS, though smoking is an exceptionally difficult habit to break due to the
11powerful nature of addiction to cigarettes, thousands of Americans win the battle to quit
12smoking each year, many with the help of a smoking cessation program; and
13 WHEREAS, as provided in state statute (R.S. 26:901), "vapor product", in pertinent
14part, means any non-combustible product containing nicotine that employs a heating
15element, power source, electronic circuit, or other electronic, chemical, or mechanical means
16that can be used to produce vapor from nicotine in a solution or other form; and
17 WHEREAS, the statutory definition of "vapor product" includes any electronic
18cigarette; and
19 WHEREAS, pursuant to authority granted in the federal Tobacco Control Act of
202009, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) finalized regulations in 2016
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HR NO. 155
1which, for the first time, would impose strict oversight of electronic cigarettes and other
2vapor products; and
3 WHEREAS, according to a brief that the FDA filed in August 2016, the percentage
4of high school students who use electronic cigarettes rose from one and one-half percent to
5thirteen and four-tenths percent from 2011 to 2014; and
6 WHEREAS, opponents of the FDA regulations argue that electronic cigarettes and
7other vapor products can help people to wean themselves off of smoking combustible forms
8of tobacco; and
9 WHEREAS, proponents of the FDA regulations argue that they are an appropriate
10response to a significant public health problem, and that they are necessary to curb an
11industry which targets dangerous products toward children.
12 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
13Legislature of Louisiana does hereby urge and request the Louisiana Department of Health
14to study the following issues associated with electronic cigarettes and other vapor products:
15 (1) The rates at which electronic cigarettes and other vapor products are taxed in
16each U.S. state.
17 (2) The health impacts associated with the use of electronic cigarettes and other
18vapor products.
19 (3) Whether the use of electronic cigarettes and other vapor products should be
20promoted as a safe and effective means of quitting smoking.
21 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, if requested by the secretary of the Louisiana
22Department of Health, the secretary of the Louisiana Department of Revenue shall assist and
23collaborate in the tax-related aspect of the study requested in this Resolution.
24 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Louisiana Department of Health shall
25develop a written report of findings of the study requested by this Resolution, and shall
26submit the report to the House Committee on Ways and Means and the House Committee
27on Health and Welfare no later than sixty days prior to the convening of the 2018 Regular
28Session of the Legislature of Louisiana.
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HR NO. 155
1 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
2secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health and the secretary of the Louisiana
3Department of Revenue.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HR 155 Original 2017 Regular Session Hoffmann
Urges and requests the La. Dept. of Health to study the following issues associated with
electronic cigarettes and other vapor products:
(1)The rates at which electronic cigarettes and other vapor products are taxed in each
U.S. state.
(2)The health impacts associated with the use of electronic cigarettes and other vapor
products.
(3)Whether the use of electronic cigarettes and other vapor products should be
promoted as a safe and effective means of quitting smoking.
Provides that, if requested by the secretary of the La. Dept. of Health, the secretary of the
La. Dept. of Revenue shall assist and collaborate in the tax-related aspect of the study.
Requires the La. Dept. of Health to report findings from the study to the House Committee
on Ways and Means and the House Committee on Health and Welfare no later than 60 days
prior to the convening of the 2018 R.S.
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