STAND. COM. REP. NO. 442

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 1999

                                   RE:  S.B. No. 824
                                        




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

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was
referred S.B. No. 824 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO OSTEOPOROSIS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to enact statutory provisions
for osteoporosis prevention and treatment education.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure
from the Department of Health (DOH), Hawaii State Commission on
the Status of Women, and League of Women Voters of Hawaii.

     This measure requires the DOH, in cooperation with the
Department of Education and the Executive Office on Aging, to
establish, promote, and maintain an osteoporosis prevention and
education program in order to raise public awareness, educate
consumers, and educate and train health professionals, teachers,
and humans services providers.

     According to the DOH, osteoporosis is a serious chronic
condition, especially for women, because of its silent
progression over many years and its lack of a cure.  A large
percentage of the aging population are women and osteoporosis
decreases their quality of life and increases health care costs.
Since there is no cure for osteoporosis, the key is prevention,
early detection, and treatment.


 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 442
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     Your Committee finds that the creation of a statewide
osteoporosis prevention and treatment program, which includes all
ages of the population is a very worthwhile endeavor for the
State.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this
report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose
of S.B. No. 824 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be
referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Health and Human
                                   Services,



                                   ______________________________
                                   SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair

 
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