STAND. COM. REP. NO. 732

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 272

       S.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committees on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health and Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 272, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO RAT LUNGWORM DISEASE,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to support programs, studies, and activities related to the prevention and eradication of rat lungworm disease by appropriating funds to the University of Hawaii at Hilo.

 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaii at Hilo, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Agriculture, Office of the Mayor of the County of Hawaii, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Hawaii Farm to School and School Garden Hui, Big Island Invasive Species Committee, Hawaii Farmers and Ranchers United, Farm to Keiki, and thirty-one individuals.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Health.

 

     Your Committees find that rat lungworm disease is a relatively new, but very serious, pathogen that plagues fresh produce grown in Hawaii.  Over the past fifteen years, cases of rat lungworm disease in Hawaii have been increasing in number and severity, in particular throughout areas of the Island of Hawaii and more recently affecting Maui as well.  The rat lungworm parasite is primarily carried through the activity of rats and slugs, and can cause a rare type of meningitis that is extremely painful, debilitating, and even deadly.  Furthermore, the medical expenses associated with contracting rat lungworm disease can be over $1,000,000.  Your Committees find that the more the public understands the hazards of this disease, the less of a public health issue it will become, but that more research is also vital to understanding and preventing this disease.  Your Committees note the significant amount of supportive testimony submitted on this measure, and recognize the need for vigorous, coordinated efforts to effectively combat this public health concern.

 

     Your Committees have amended this measure by inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health and Ways and Means that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 272, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 272, S.D. 2.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health and Ways and Means,

 

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair

 

________________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair