STAND. COM. REP. NO. 940
Honolulu, Hawaii
RE: S.B. No. 1728
S.D. 1
Honorable Colleen Hanabusa
President of the Senate
Twenty-Fourth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2007
State of Hawaii
Madam:
Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1728, S.D. 1, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO A TWO-YEAR HEPATITIS C DEMONSTRATION PROJECT,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to make an appropriation for a two-year demonstration project at the Waikiki Health Center and the West Hawaii Community Health Center for Hepatitis C testing, case management, and treatment.
Your Committee received comments in support of this measure from the Waikiki Health Center; Nursing, Advocates & Mentors, Inc.; Asian American Network for Cancer Awareness Research and Training; Filipino Coalition for Solidarity; Oahu Filipino Community Council; Philippine Nurses Association of Hawaii; United Filipino Council of Hawaii; Hepatitis Prevention, Education, Treatment & Support Network of Hawaii; Hep Cats Support Group Committee; and two individuals.
Your Committee finds that Hawaii has one of the highest rates of liver cancer in the United States due to the high rate of chronic viral hepatitis in our State. Over fourteen thousand individuals in Hawaii have been diagnosed with Hepatitis C. Part of the reason for this high prevalence is due to fact that many of our island residents are immigrants from the Philippines and other Pacific Island communities.
Your Committee further finds that, if not diagnosed at an early stage, treatment is very difficult, extremely expensive, and in many cases too late.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1728, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,
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____________________________ ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair |
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