STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1130-16

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2016

 

RE:   S.B. No. 2240

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 2240, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO REESTABLISH A VECTOR CONTROL BRANCH,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for the Department of Health (DOH) to hire more full-time employees for vector control and to reestablish a Vector Control Branch within its Environmental Health Administration.

 

     The Office of the Governor, State Adjutant General, Director of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, Administrator of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, Department of Health, Oahu Invasive Species Committee, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Hawaii Green Growth, and an individual testified in support of this measure.

 

Your Committee recognizes that reestablishing a Vector Control Branch in the State will support efforts to control vectors and prevent vector-borne diseases.  This measure appropriates funds to hire full-time equivalent positions for vector control that includes a vector control program manager and three staff positions, as well as to take steps to fully reestablish a Vector Control Branch. 

 

 

Your Committee notes that reestablishment of DOH's Vector Control Program to pre-Reduction-in-Force levels requires approximately $1.4 million for 34.0 full-time equivalent positions and $1.2 million for other current expenses, equipment, and motor vehicles with half being one-time costs.  Should the Committee on Finance consider this measure, your Committee respectfully requests that it consider the above-mentioned appropriation amounts.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing its effective date to July 1, 2112, to facilitate further discussion.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2240, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2240, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

DELLA AU BELATTI, Chair