Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 1121 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

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

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Human Services, Department of Health, Hawaii HIV Prevention Community Planning Group, AIDS Community Care Team, Life Foundation, Gregory House Programs, Community Health Outreach Work to Prevent AIDS Project, Maui AIDS Foundation, and one individual. Opposing testimony was received from the City and County of Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney and Police Departments.

Your Committee finds that the sharing of syringes can lead to transmission of HIV, viral hepatitis, and other blood-borne diseases. Providing medical services to individuals infected by shared needles imposes great economic cost on the State. By facilitating access and distribution of clean hypodermic syringes, transmission of disease can be decreased, thus lessening the number of persons infected and the economic burden on the State.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing 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 Third Reading.