THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2314

TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2018

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to rat lungworm disease.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the department of health has reported over seventy cases of rat lungworm disease caused by Angiostrongylus cantonensis from 2001 to 2014.  There were many more cases in 2017, including at least eleven on Hawaii island, six on Maui, and one on Oahu.  The disease has claimed lives and caused crippling chronic disability.  The cost of treatment for one severe case can exceed $1,000,000.  The Hawaii island rat lungworm disease working group has been formed at the Daniel K. Inouye college of pharmacy at the University of Hawaii at Hilo and has been conducting research and educational outreach on the disease for the past four years.

     The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to the University of Hawaii at Hilo for research and other activities related to the eradication and prevention of rat lungworm disease.

     SECTION 2.  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 2018-2019 for research and other activities related to the eradication and prevention of rat lungworm disease, including:

     (1)  Conducting laboratory testing to determine the effectiveness of deworming rats to reduce rat lungworm transmission;

     (2)  Conducting laboratory testing of a wide range of commercially available produce washes as well as other potential solutions;

     (3)  Conducting laboratory testing of commercially available filters and ultraviolet systems to determine effectiveness in catchment; and

     (4)  Optimizing existing tests or developing new blood-based tests for rat lungworm diagnostics;

provided that the University of Hawaii at Hilo shall collaborate with the department of health, department of land and natural resources, department of agriculture, and the governor's joint rat lungworm task force, to create a statewide plan for the eradication and prevention of rat lungworm disease.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii at Hilo for the purposes of this Act; provided that the appropriated funds shall not be released until the University of Hawaii at Hilo submits to the legislature a comprehensive plan describing specific research and other activities it plans to undertake to eradicate and prevent rat lungworm disease in the State.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2018.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

 


 


 

Report Title:

Rat Lungworm Disease; University of Hawaii at Hilo; Appropriation

 

Description:

Appropriates funds to the University of Hawaii at Hilo for research and other activities related to rat lungworm disease.  Conditions release of the funds on the University submitting a report to the legislature listing the specific research and activities it plans to undertake.  Requires the University, along with the Department of Health, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Agriculture, and Joint Rat Lungworm Task Force, to create a statewide plan for the eradication and prevention of rat lungworm disease.

 

 

 

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