Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Labor & Public Employment and Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 1318 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to offer public employees a designated, paid leave that is specifically used for serving as a bone marrow or organ donor.

The Filipino Nurses' Organization of Hawaii, Hawaii State Teachers Association, Nursing Advocates and Mentors, Inc., Organ Donor Center of Hawaii, St. Francis Medical Center, Transplant Association of Hawaii, and several concerned individuals supported this measure. The Department of Human Resources Development and Kaiser Permanente supported the intent of this measure.

Your Committees find that with Hawaii having the fifth highest rate of dialysis patients in the country, the issue of allowing those who participate in bone marrow or organ donor programs the support they need is important. Our public employees may be faced with situations in which they could be called upon to help a friend, a family member, or even a complete stranger who may be a match for a bone marrow or organ donation. Your Committees believe this is a vital measure to allow our public workers the time necessary to help someone in crisis without making the public employee face a financial hardship that could occur from work missed through this selfless act.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Labor & Public Employment and Health that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1318 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.