Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Health and Science, Arts, and Technology, to which was referred S.B. No. 1446 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to create a cancer detection special fund the moneys of which are to be used to encourage, in the form of grants or loans, the Hawaii-based development of technology to detect cancer in its early stages.

Testimony supporting this measure was received from the Hawaii Technology Trade Association, Science & Technology International, and two medical doctors. The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, supported the intent of this measure and deferred to the Department of Health which also supported the intent but opposed this measure due to its possible adverse impact on the priorities of the proposed Executive Biennium Budget. The Department of Budget and Finance submitted testimony opposing this measure.

Your Committees find that cancer remains a serious and pervasive health problem afflicting Hawaii's population. Your Committees further recognize the scientific research and data that establishes a relationship between the use of tobacco products and incidents of cancer, including cervical cancer. There have been significant strides in treating and preventing cancer partly due to aggressive prevention education programs and the research activities of the University of Hawaii and the State's health and biotechnology industries. However, cancer continues to plague our population.

Your Committees believe that every effort should be made to harness the resources of Hawaii's internationally renowned health and biomedical technology industries and encourage efforts to develop technologies that detect cancer in its early stages. Through early detection, cancers can be identified, treated, and eliminated before they significantly threaten the health of an individual.

Your Committees considered the method of funding proposed by this measure and decided to adopt a different approach. Consequently, your Committees have amended this measure by replacing its contents with provisions that:

The actual percentages have been left blank for determination by your Committee on Ways and Means.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Science, Arts, and Technology that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1446, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1446, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.