Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 1121 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to allow pharmacists and health care providers to sell hypodermic syringes for the purpose of preventing the transmission of disease.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Department of Health, Department of Human Services, Board of Health, Governor's Committee on HIV/AIDS, University of Hawaii, Gregory House Programs, Hawaii Pharmacists Association, AIDS Community Care Team, Libertarian Party of Hawaii, The CHOW Project, Hawaii HIV Prevention Community Planning Group, Life Foundation, Big Island AIDS Project, Hawaii Medical Association, Harm Reduction Hawaii, Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii, and the Maui AIDS Foundation. Testimony in opposition to this measure was submitted by the City and County of Honolulu Police Department and the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney.

Your Committee finds that the sharing of needles by drug injectors is a major cause of the spread of HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and other fatal diseases. Your Committee further finds that although this measure will not decrease the use of drugs, your Committee is satisfied that it will reduce the transmission of deadly blood born diseases. The cost of care for infected individuals impose great economic cost on the state to provide medical services through the QUEST, Medicaid, and Medicare programs. In fact, studies have shown that the lifetime cost of caring for someone with HIV/AIDS is estimated at $149,000. If this program can help save lives and reduce the medical cost, then your Committee supports this measure and recommends its passage.

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. 1121 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing.