Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 109, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to request that the Department of Health broaden the accessibility, distribution, and dissemination of educational material on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of hepatitis C. In addition, this concurrent resolution requests that the Department of Health coordinate a Hepatitis C Education Work Group.

The Department of Health, Hepatitis Hale Treatment and Support Program, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, and two concerned individuals supported this measure.

Your Committee finds that there is a need to streamline the process by which educational and informational materials on hepatitis C are communicated and disseminated to health care providers and others at high risk of exposure. The establishment of a work group provides the Department of Health with an additional mechanism with which to implement the goals and objectives of the the Hawaii Hepatitis C Strategic Plan.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 109, S.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance.