Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 646 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to decriminalize the sale of sterile syringes to persons who may use them for the injection of illicit drugs.

Your Committee realizes the sharing of needles by intravenous (IV) drug users is a major cause of the spread of HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and other fatal blood borne diseases. Although this is common knowledge among IV drug users, the practices of needle sharing and IV drug use have not diminished.

Furthermore, your Committee recognizes that research conducted by the Federal Government determined that increased access to sterile syringes does not lead to increased drug use, but instead reduces transmission of deadly blood borne diseases.

Testimony in support of this measure was received from the Department of Health, University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine, Governor's Committee on HIV/AIDS, HIV Prevention Community Planning Group, Life Foundation, CHOW Project, Hawaii Public Health Association, AIDS Community Care Team, Department of Human Services, Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii, Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, HARM Reduction Hawaii, and the Hawaii Pharmacists Association.

Testimony opposing this measure was received from the Honolulu Police Department and the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu. These agencies felt that this measure weakened the 'bridge to treatment' features of the current needle exchange program and provided another opportunity for intravenous drug users to obtain syringes for the use of illicit drugs.

Although your Committee understands the concerns of both the Honolulu Police Department and the Prosecuting Attorney's Office, your Committee finds that the health implications of this measure far outweigh these concerns and accordingly recommends passage of this measure without amendments.

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. 646 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs.