STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1305-16

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2016

RE:   S.B. No. 2392

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 2

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Consumer Protection & Commerce and Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 2392, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO OPIOID ANTAGONISTS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to promote the responsible use of opioid antagonists to treat drug overdoses by, among other things:

     (1)  Providing immunity for health care professionals and pharmacists who prescribe, dispense, distributes, possess, or administer an opioid antagonists such as naloxone hydrochloride to persons at risk of experiencing an opioid-related drug overdose;

     (2)  Authorizing emergency personnel and first responders to administer opioid antagonists opioid antagonists to a person believed to be suffering from opioid-related drug overdose;

     (3)  Requiring Medicaid coverage for opioid antagonists;

     (4)  Allowing harm reduction organizations to store and distribute opioid antagonists; and

     (5)  Requiring the Department of Health to provide education and training related to drug overdose prevention, recognition, and response, including opioid antagonist administration.

The Department of Health; Walgreen Co.; Hawaii Medical Service Association; Hawaii Association of Professional Nurses; Ku Aloha Ola Mau; The CHOW Project; Hawaii Community Pharmacists Association; Hawaii Medical Association; Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii; Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition; Drug Policy Action Group; Community Alliance of Prisons; Hawaii ACEP; and numerous individuals supported this measure.  The Department of the Attorney General; Department of Human Services; and Hawaii Association for Justice provided comments.  

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Consumer Protection & Commerce and Judiciary that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2392, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it be referred to your Committee on Finance, in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2392, S.D. 2, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Consumer Protection & Commerce and Judiciary,

____________________________ KARL RHOADS, Chair

____________________________ ANGUS L.K. McKELVEY, Chair