HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

THE TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE

REGULAR SESSION OF 2005

COMMITTEE ON HEALTH

Rep. Dennis A. Arakaki, Chair

Rep. Josh Green, M.D., Vice Chair

Rep. Rida T.R. Cabanilla

Rep. Alex M. Sonson

Rep. Helene H. Hale

Rep. Lynn Finnegan

Rep. Scott Y. Nishimoto

NOTICE OF HEARING

DATE:

February 3, 2005

TIME:

9:00 a.m.

PLACE:

Conference Room 329

State Capitol

415 South Beretania Street

A G E N D A

HB 538

RELATING TO MANDATORY OVERTIME FOR NURSES.

Prohibits both public and private hospitals from forcing nurses to work overtime, except in cases of a federal, state, or county declared emergency. Excludes nurse midwives and nurse anesthetists from mandatory overtime requirements.

HLT, LAB, FIN

HB 542

RELATING TO HEALTH.

Requires health care facilities to submit to the department of health a nurse staffing plan that was developed by a committee of nurses employed by health care facilities.

HLT, CPC, FIN

HB 854

RELATING TO MEDICAL LIABILITY.

Sets a cap of $250,000 on noneconomic damages that may be recovered from a physician or surgeon in a medical liability action for emergency care services provided in the emergency room of a hospital.

HLT, CPC, JUD

HB 361

RELATING TO THE ILLEGAL USE OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES.

Appropriates funds for state agencies and the counties for crystal methamphetamine (ice) treatment, prevention, rehabilitation, education, environmental damage assessments, and program monitoring initiatives.

HLT, JUD, FIN

HB 385

RELATING TO CRYSTAL METHAMPHETAMINE.

Allocates the one-half-cent increase in the tobacco tax that took effect on 7/1/04, and an additional one-half-cent increase in the tobacco tax that proposed to take effect on 7/1/05, to prevention and treatment programs and services for crystal methamphetamine.

HLT, JUD, FIN

DECISION MAKING TO FOLLOW

HB 648

RELATING TO TORTS.

Imposes limitations on awards of noneconomic and punitive damages and attorney's fees. Allocates damages in proportion to degree of negligence. Prohibits joint liability and allows periodic payment of future damages in medical tort actions.

HLT, CPC, JUD

HB 662

RELATING TO TORTS.

Exempts physicians from liability when they are in good faith rendering emergency medical care.

HLT, CPC, JUD

DECISION MAKING ONLY ON MEASURES PREVIOUSLY DEFERRED

NO TESTIMONY WILL BE TAKEN

HB 181

RELATING TO MEDICAL TORTS.

Amends the law relating to medical torts to improve patient access to health care services and provide improved medical care by reducing the burden the liability system places on the health care delivery system in Hawaii.

HLT, CPC, JUD

HB 237

RELATING TO TORTS.

Shortens statute of limitations for medical malpractice action. Caps noneconomic damages and contingent attorney's fees awards. Permits evidence of collateral benefits. Disallows punitive damages claim in initial complaint. Permits periodic payments of future damages.

HLT, CPC, JUD

HB 102

RELATING TO MEDICAL RESEARCH.

Requires medical research subject to chapter 324, HRS, that includes prescription drugs as part of a clinical trial, research, or experimental treatment for a serious or life-threatening diseases to register the study with a public registry; public registry information shall include potential benefit and harm.

HLT, CPC, FIN

HB 516

RELATING TO EMERGENCY HEALTH POWERS.

Provides broad powers to the department of health to respond to a public health emergency.

HLT, JUD/CPC, FIN

PERSONS WISHING TO TESTIFY ARE REQUESTED TO SUBMIT 30 COPIES OF THEIR TESTIMONY AT LEAST 24 HOURS PRIOR TO THE HEARING TO: (1) THE COMMITTEE'S VICE CHAIR IN ROOM 327, STATE CAPITOL, OR (2) THE HOUSE SGT.-AT-ARMS TESTIMONY DROP OFF BOX IN THE TURNAROUND AREA OF THE CAPITOL BASEMENT PARKING LOT. TESTIMONY MAY ALSO BE FAXED IF LESS THAN 5 PAGES IN LENGTH TO THE HOUSE SGT.-AT-ARMS OFFICE AT: 586-6501 (OAHU) OR 1-800-535-3859 (NEIGHBOR ISLANDS). WHEN FAXING, PLEASE INDICATE TO WHOM THE TESTIMONY IS BEING SUBMITTED, THE DATE AND TIME OF THE HEARING, AND THE REQUIRED NO. OF COPIES THAT IS NEEDED FOR SUBMITTAL.

IT IS ALSO REQUESTED THAT THE COPIES BE ON ONE SIDE OF AN 8-1/2" X 11" SHEET WITH TWO HOLES PUNCHED AT THE TOP. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL THE COMMITTEE CLERK AT 586-6050.

IF YOU REQUIRE SPECIAL ASSISTANCE OR AUXILIARY AIDS AND/OR SERVICES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PUBLIC HEARING PROCESS OF THE STATE HOUSE (I.E., SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETER, WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBILITY, OR PARKING DESIGNATED FOR THE DISABLED), PLEASE CONTACT THE COMMITTEE CLERK AT LEAST 24 HOURS PRIOR TO THE HEARING SO ARRANGEMENTS CAN BE MADE.

 

 

________________________________________

Rep. Dennis A. Arakaki

Chair