STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3452

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 2340

       H.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 H.B. No. 2340, H.D. 2, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DEAD BODIES,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to clarify prohibited actions related to anatomical gifts and disposition of bodies.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaii System.

 

     Your Committee finds that this measure will protect vulnerable donors and their loved ones from making anatomical gifts to people or entities other than recipients who are capable of handling bodies with care and respect for legitimate medical or research purposes.  Your Committee also finds that this measure will prevent body donations to people or entities who may not take the necessary steps to create a death certificate and obtain a disposition permit for the body.

 

     Your Committee notes the importance of the Willed Body Program at the John A. Burns School of Medicine at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, which provides medical students with basic training in anatomy and the opportunity to develop clinical skills upon which to build applied clinical knowledge throughout their medical education and careers.  As part of the Willed Body Program, medical students hold an annual memorial service to honor the human cadavers, which provides community engagement in the training of future physicians and ensures that the disposition of the donated bodies are done properly and respectfully.  Furthermore, support for programs at the John A. Burns School of Medicine is critical in addressing the physician shortage currently in the State.

 

     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. 2340, H.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Second Reading 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