Report Title:

Cervical Cancer; Education and Prevention; Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates $     in FY 2007-2008 to the department of health and the women's caucus of the legislature to conduct a comprehensive educational media and speaking campaign about the causes and prevention of cervical cancer in the State.

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	1108
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to CERVICAL CANCER AWARENESS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that cancer is the most costly illness in the United States.  Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women.  In Hawaii, cervical cancer is fatal in almost twenty per cent of the women diagnosed with this illness.

     The legislature also finds that cervical cancer is a fully preventable disease, if pre-cancerous cell changes are detected and treated early enough, and believes that education about cervical cancer can be a significant factor in helping with early detection of this illness.

     The purpose of this Act is to allow the department of health and the women's caucus of the legislature to disseminate information about the causes and methods of prevention of cervical cancer.  In 2005, the women's caucus of the legislature established a speakers' bureau to address several organizations and clubs.  The women's community correctional center also allowed the women's caucus to address inmates.  Volunteer gynecologists provided technical advice to ensure the validity of the information being disseminated.  The appropriation in this Act will allow the caucus to meet with neighbor island women.

     Cervical cancer is on the verge of being eradicated in the United States due to the availability of new vaccines and increasing success in persuading women to avail themselves of regular Pap smear and HIV tests.  However, four thousand women a year still die of this disease in the United States and two hundred seventy thousand a year die globally.

     SECTION 2.  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, to allow the department of health and the women's caucus of the legislature to conduct a comprehensive educational media and speaking campaign and pursue informational activities about the causes and prevention of cervical cancer in the State.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2007.

INTRODUCED BY:

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