Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 69 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Director of Health to conduct a prevention and education campaign on the increasing incidence of bedbugs.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Pest Control Association and the Hawaiian Alliance for Responsible Technology and Science. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to the measure from the Department of Health.

Your Committee finds that an increase in the incidence of bed bugs could be detrimental to Hawaii's tourism industry. Although bed bugs are not known to carry disease, they are offensive and can cause allergic reactions.

Your Committee has amended this measure in response to the testimony submitted by the Department of Health by requesting the Department of Health to work in cooperation with the State Tourism Liaison and the Hawaii Hotel and Lodging Association in raising awareness, education, and prevention of the increasing incidence of bedbugs.

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. 69, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 69, S.D. 1.