STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1084

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

 

RE:   S.B. No. 655

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 655, S.D. 2, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to protect public health by allowing health care professionals to dispense or prescribe medication, without examination, to the heterosexual partners of patients diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease, in accordance with the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for Expedited Partner Therapy.

 

     The Department of Health, Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Hawaii Association of Professional Nurses, Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition of Hawaii, Gay Lesbian Bisexual and Transgender Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Hawaii State Democratic Women's Caucus, Hawaii Women's Coalition, Planned Parenthood of Hawaii, and many concerned individuals testified in support of this measure.  The Hawaii Medical Association and a concerned individual testified in support and provided amendments to this measure.  The Hawaii Association for Justice testified in opposition of this measure.  The Hawaii Medical Board provided comments on this measure.

 

     Your Committee notes that concerns were raised regarding the breadth of the liability immunity provided in the current draft of this measure.  Should the committees on Consumer Protection and Commerce and Judiciary consider this measure, your Committee respectfully requests that they explore measures taken by other states to address restricting or broadening liability protections.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

    

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, 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. 655, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 655, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committees on Consumer Protection & Commerce and Judiciary.

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

DELLA AU BELATTI, Chair