STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1039-00

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 2000

                                 RE: S.B. No. 2621
                                     S.D. 1
                                     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 S.B. No.
2621, S.D. 1, 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 testified in support of this
measure.  DOH testified in support of the intent of this measure.
The Legislative Information Services of Hawaii submitted
comments.

     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
organized method of reporting these injuries.  This measure would
establish a system of 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;

 
 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1039-00
                                 Page 2

 
     (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;

     (3)  Deleting the option that the report include information
          on the type of fireworks and the nature of the
          injuries; and

     (4)  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 S.B. No.
2621, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass
Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2621, S.D.
1, 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