STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1377

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 1999

                                   RE:  S.C.R. No. 111
                                        S.D. 1




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and
Health and Human Services, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 111
entitled:

     "SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE INSURANCE
     COMMISSIONER TO CONVENE A WORKING GROUP TO STUDY THE USE OF
     GENETIC INFORMATION AND GENETIC TEST RESULTS FOR INSURANCE
     COVERAGE PURPOSES,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to request the Insurance
Commissioner to convene a working group to study the use of
genetic test results for insurance coverage purposes.

     The Department of Health, AARP, the Hawaii Medical
Association and American Cancer Society presented testimony in
support of the measure.  The American Council on Life Insurers
presented testimony in opposition to the measure.  The State
Insurance Commissioner and State Farm Insurance presented
comments on the measure.

     The Executive Office on Aging and the Commission on Persons
with Disabilities presented testimony requesting that they not be
included in the working group.

     Your Committee finds that technological advances in genetic
testing have raised valid concerns regarding the proper use of
genetic information and testing.  Your Committee further finds
that more information is needed on several related issues

 
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including the definition of the term "genetic information" and
what the term encompasses, sound underwriting standards, the
accuracy of genetic testing technologies, alleged past abuses of
personal information in insurance underwriting and under what
circumstances would it be appropriate to use "genetic
information" in insurance underwriting.

     Your Committee has amended this measure to:

     (1)  Remove the Executive Office of Aging, the State
          Commission on Persons with Disabilities and State Farm
          Insurance from the working group;

     (2)  Add the Alzheimer's Disease Foundation, the Breast
          Cancer Support Group, a community-based board certified
          genetic professional and the Legislative Reference
          Bureau to the working group; and

     (3)  Make technical and non-substantive amendments.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your
Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Health and
Human Services that are attached to this report, your Committees
are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 111, as
amended herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached
hereto as S.C.R. No. 111, S.D. 1.

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



                                   ______________________________
                                   BRIAN KANNO, Co-Chair



                                   ______________________________
                                   BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Co-Chair

 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1377
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                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Health and Human
                                   Services,



                                   ______________________________
                                   SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair

 
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