Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 2472, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to make permanent Act 292, Session Laws of Hawaii 2001, relating to the sale of sterile syringes for the prevention of disease.

This measure also repeals the requirement in Act 292 that the Director of Health implement a disposal and tracking system and report to the Legislature accordingly.

Testimony in support of this measure was received from the Department of Health, Governor's Committee on HIV/AIDS, Life Foundation, Malama Pono - Kauai AIDS Project, Community Health Outreach Work to Prevent AIDS, Hawaii HIV Prevention Community Planning Group, Drug Policy Action Group, Hawaii CARES, Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc., Hawaii HIV Prevention Community Planning Group, and three individuals.

Act 292 permits pharmacists, physicians, and other health care institutions to sell sterile syringes. This measure would delete the sunset date and allow for the continuation of this effective public health intervention.

Your Committee finds that the Centers for Disease Control recognize that use of sterile syringes reduces spread of blood borne diseases such as HIV and hepatitis. Research has also indicated that these laws do not lead to an increase in the number of new users, but rather lead to safer use by existing users.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2472, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.