Report Title:

Epidemic Prevention Program; Communicable Diseases

Description:

Requires DOH to implement an epidemic prevention program to prevent disease-carrying vectors from entering the State. Requires rules and report. Makes appropriation.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1416

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2003

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to prevention of communicable diseases.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds Hawaii is a major crossroads through which significant amounts of passenger and cargo traffic from all corners of the globe transit, which poses serious threats to the islands' quality of life, environment, and health and its economic well-being. Although Hawaii is an insular state geographically remote from the major continents, protection against various epidemics by virtue of our Pacific location is no longer guaranteed in these days of modern jet travel where highly infectious and dangerous diseases can be as close as a six-hour plane ride.

The legislature also finds that, although the department of health has a communicable disease division, insufficient emphasis has been placed on preventive measures against the epidemic spread of various diseases, such as the West Nile virus and dengue fever in Hawaii, especially at the most common points of entry into the State.

The purpose of this Act is to provide adequate funding to support the department of health's communicable disease division's efforts to take adequate preventive measures to address, contain, and eliminate threats of the introduction of various diseases that may escalate into epidemic proportions in Hawaii.

SECTION 2. Chapter 325, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part I to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§325-   Communicable diseases; epidemic prevention program; report; rules. (a) The director shall implement an epidemic prevention program that shall target the State's airports and harbors to prevent the potential entry of communicable disease vectors that may cause an epidemic in Hawaii. The program shall:

(1) Monitor the worldwide patterns of movement and spread of various communicable diseases not currently existing in the State that are borne by various vectors that may enter the State;

(2) Identify the possible entry of such vectors based on such monitoring; and

(3) Prepare and carry out active preventive measures.

(b) The director shall report on the activities of the program annually as part of the department's annual report.

(c) The director shall adopt rules in accordance with chapter 91 to carry out the purposes of this section, including criteria for determining the risk of entry of various vectors, rating of the State's airports and harbors as to risk, and specific preventive methods to be used."

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $       , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2003-2004, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2004-2005, to fund the epidemic prevention program within the communicable disease division of the department of health for the purposes of section 325-   , Hawaii Revised Statutes.

SECTION 4. The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 5. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect upon its approval; provided that sections 3 and 4 shall take effect on July 1, 2003.

INTRODUCED BY:

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