STAND. COM. REP. NO. 411

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2005

RE: S.B. No. 1310

S.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 1310 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO OFFENSES AGAINST THE PERSON,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to add violence against health care professionals to the offenses of assault in the second degree and terroristic threatening in the first degree.

The Healthcare Association of Hawaii and one individual submitted testimony in support of this measure. The Office of the Public Defender submitted testimony in opposition.

Your Committee finds that health care workers face a high level of risk of work-related assaults and threats stemming from several factors, including the increasing presence of handguns and other weapons among patients, their families, and friends. The Healthcare Association of Hawaii cited one national study that revealed in a ten year period, one hundred and six occupational violence-related deaths occurred among pharmacists, physicians, registered nurses, nurses' aides, and health care workers in other occupational categories. Violence and threats are also a problem among emergency medical service personnel. Many of the threats are the result of mental illness, emotional distress, lack of the provider's medical capabilities, drug or alcohol abuse, or a manifestation of a medical condition. This measure will promote awareness and act as a deterrent to help ensure the safety of health care workers.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, non-substantive amendments for clarity and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1310, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1310, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair