STAND. COM. REP. NO. 428-00

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 2000

                                 RE: H.B. No. 2248
                                     H.D. 1




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No.
2248 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to collect data on
fireworks-related injuries by requiring health care facilities to
report all incidents of injuries and fatalities caused by
fireworks to the Department of Health (DOH) and the police
department of the county in which the person was attended or
treated.

     The Hawaii Nurses' Association and the Legislative
Information Services of Hawaii testified in support of this
measure.  DOH and the Honolulu Police Department (HPD) supported
the intent of this measure.

     According to HPD, the 2000 New Year's celebration resulted
in 2,595 reports of fireworks-related complaints and calls for
police service on Oahu.  Five serious injuries and one death were
reported as fireworks-related.  In addition, HPD records show
that at least 46 people went to hospitals for treatment of
respiratory problems aggravated by the fireworks-generated smoke
from the "legal" fireworks as well as "illegal" aerials.

     Your Committee finds that anecdotal reports of
fireworks-related injuries have been more forthcoming from health
care facilities over recent years.  Unfortunately, there is no

 
 
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organized method of reporting these injuries.  This measure would
establish a system for central reporting and tracking fireworks
related injuries and fatalities.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Clarifying that reportable injuries must be serious
          injuries and caused by legal and illegal fireworks;

     (2)  Changing the definition of "health care facility" from
          any program, institution, place, building, or agency to
          any outpatient clinic, emergency room, or doctor's
          office; and

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for
          purposes of clarity and style.

     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 H.B. No.
2248, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second
Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2248, H.D. 1, and
be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs.

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



                                   ______________________________
                                   ALEXANDER C. SANTIAGO, Chair