HB1000

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that infection with sexually transmitted human papillomavirus is common in adult populations worldwide. Research suggests that up to seventy-five per cent of women will become infected with one or more of the sexually transmitted human papillomavirus types at some point during adulthood. Although most genital human papillomavirus infections come and go without ever causing any symptoms, lingering infections with a small subset of high-risk papillomavirus types can lead to the development of cervical cancer.

The current generation of preventive human papillomavirus vaccines that are available target the two most common high-risk human papillomavirus types that cause about seventy per cent of all cervical cancer. The two vaccines that are currently available, Gardasil and Cervarix, are designed to elicit virus-neutralizing antibody responses that prevent initial infection with the papillomavirus types represented in the vaccine. The vaccines have been shown to offer one hundred per cent protection against the development of cervical pre-cancers and genital warts caused by the papillomavirus types in the vaccine, with few or no side effects. The protective effects of these vaccines are expected to last a minimum of 4.5 years after the initial vaccination.

The development of human papillomavirus vaccines offer a previously unavailable source of protection against one of the most common and deadly types of cancer. In essence, a human papillomavirus vaccine is a vaccine against cervical cancer.

The purpose of this Act to improve the overall health of Hawaii's population and reduce the incidence of cervical cancer by including human papillomavirus immunization among the vaccinations in the department of health's teen vax program.

SECTION 2. Section 325-32, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§325-32 Immunization against infectious diseases. The department of health may adopt rules requiring and governing immunization against typhoid fever, pertussis (whooping cough), diphtheria, tetanus, poliomyelitis, measles, mumps, hepatitis B, rubella, haemophilus influenzae type B, human papillomavirus, and any other communicable disease, if a suitable immunizing agent is available for the disease and a need for immunization against it exists within the State. The department may also provide vaccines and other immunizing agents to private and public health care providers for administration to the general public."

SECTION 3. Section 325-38, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

"(a) The department of health shall provide for the free immunization and vaccination of indigent and medically indigent persons and may provide such immunizations for others, especially children, of high risk and susceptibility as may be defined by the director through rules adopted pursuant to chapter 91, for their protection against the types of diseases that, in the discretion of the director, would be inimical to the health and lives of persons who may contract these diseases, including but not limited to diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, polio, typhoid, measles, mumps, rubella, haemophilus influenza (systemic), hepatitis B, human papillomavirus, influenza, and pneumococcal disease, and against other diseases for which vaccines have and will have been developed in the future."

SECTION 4. The director of health shall include immunization against human papillomavirus among the immunizations available in the teen vax program, to be available to females ages eleven through eighteen years of age.

SECTION 5. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007-2008, and the sum of $ , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009, to carry out the purposes of this Act.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of health.

SECTION 6. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 7. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2007.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1000
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007
STATE OF HAWAII