Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 2348, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to prepare the State of Hawaii for a potential outbreak of avian influenza by making an emergency appropriation of $11,000,000 for the Department of Health (DOH) to acquire medication, supplies, laboratory equipment, personal protective equipment, and a data management system for tracking cases and contacts.

DOH and Healthcare Association of Hawaii testified in support of this bill.

Your Committee recognizes the imminent need to adequately prepare for a potential pandemic, however, it is also of critical necessity to ensure that appropriated funds will be spent in an efficient and well-planned manner.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this bill by:

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2348, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2348, S.D. 1, H.D. 1.