STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2842

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 30

       S.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 30, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to require pharmacies to:

 

     (1)  Provide written notice to patients advising them of certain risks associated with not properly disposing of unwanted or expired drugs;

 

     (2)  Make available certain drug disposal options; and

 

     (3)  Provide written informational materials concerning available drug disposal options.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from University of Hawaii at Hilo, Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Board of Pharmacy, Kaiser Permanente Hawaii, and Walgreen Co.

 

     Your Committee finds that improperly disposing of unused or expired prescription drugs can create significant risks, including environmental contamination, mistaken ingestion, theft, assault, or even addiction.  Your Committee finds that Act 183, Session Laws of Hawaii 2019, authorizes pharmacies to accept the return of any prescription drug for disposal or mail-back programs, which has also helped to establish other drug take back programs in the State.  However, many residents may not be aware of this option, or the associated risks of not properly disposing of unwanted or expired drugs.  Accordingly, this measure promotes public health and safety by educating patients about proper disposal and makes available certain disposal options to patients.

 

     Your Committee notes the concerns raised in the testimony of the Board of Pharmacy that this measure will adversely affect the workload and resources for community or independent pharmacies and finds these concerns to be without merit.  The existing Hawaii Medication Drop Box and Disposal Program is a public health and safety partnership between the multiple county and state departments, and this measure simply requires pharmacies to provide information and make options available to residents in furtherance of this program.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by 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 S.B. No. 30, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 30, S.D. 2, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

 

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

 

 

 

________________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair