HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H. R. NO.	234
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE  RESOLUTION

urging the governor to change the hawaii administrative rules to allow rapid hiv testing in the state.

     WHEREAS, the statistics on the current status of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic in the United States are staggering: an estimated 850,000–950,000 persons are living with HIV; of these, 180,000–280,000 do not know they are infected; each year at public testing sites, 27,000 to 30,000 HIV test results are positive; and 31% of the people who test positive at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-funded conventional public testing sites do not return for their results; and

     WHEREAS, rapid HIV testing allows patients who undergo testing to receive their test results within about an hour, significantly increasing the likelihood that patients receive their test results and seek further testing and treatment if results are positive; and

     WHEREAS, rapid HIV testing technology was approved for use in the United States by the Federal Drug Administration in March 2004; and

     WHEREAS, because of the strict requirements in Chapter 11-110, Hawaii Administrative Rules (HAR), on the use of rapid HIV testing within the state, rapid HIV testing has been greatly underused for public health purposes in Hawaii; and

     WHEREAS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Substance Abuse and Mental Services Health Administration (SAMSHA), and other major federal public health agencies strongly support the use of the rapid HIV testing to increase knowledge of HIV serostatus; and

     WHEREAS, for example, the use of rapid HIV testing is the focus of CDC's "Advancing HIV Prevention" program; and

     WHEREAS, rapid HIV testing is currently being used in more than 40 states across the nation for public health purposes; and

     WHEREAS, both CDC and SAMHSA have provided free rapid HIV testing kits for the last several years, but Hawaii has not been able to take advantage of them because of the current administrative rules; and

     WHEREAS, Hawaii HIV Community Planning Group (CPG) has strongly endorsed the use of rapid HIV testing in Hawaii; and

     WHEREAS, a major Oahu community-based organization has received CDC funding specifically for the use of rapid HIV testing to increase accessibility of the test but has been unable to use the funds because of the current administrative rules; and

     WHEREAS, the Department of Health is currently in the process of amending Chapter 11-110, HAR, including amendments to reduce barriers to the use of rapid HIV testing; and

     WHEREAS, rapid HIV testing will give the public additional options for testing and is likely to increase the number of clients who obtain their test results and if positive obtain additional testing and treatment; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2007, that the Governor is urged to change the HAR to allow the use of rapid HIV testing in Hawaii; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor and the Director of Health.

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

Rapid HIV testing; Hawaii Administrative Rules