STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1864

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 1157

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 1157, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION STUDENT IMMUNIZATIONS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to exempt students in post-secondary education programs from immunization requirements if they attend classes exclusively online or through distance learning, under certain conditions.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaii System and Oahu County Democrats Committee on Legislative Priorities.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health.

 

     Your Committee finds that colleges and universities are offering increasing numbers of courses and programs online.  As methods of educational delivery change, certain requirements that have been traditionally imposed on students, such as immunizations, may not be as relevant as they are for students receiving traditional classroom instruction.  Your Committee further finds that the Department of Health is proposing a rule change to exempt post-secondary students who are enrolled in exclusively online courses or degree programs from the current immunization requirements.  However, the Department's proposed rule change may not be adopted in time for the fall 2019 semester.  This measure therefore provides an exemption from the immunization requirements for these students in a timely manner.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2019; and

 

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1157, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1157, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health,

 

 

 

________________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair