STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1150

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 136

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Education and Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 136, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AIDS RESEARCH,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for the Hawaii AIDS Clinical Research Program of the University of Hawaii John A. Burns Medical School.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the University of Hawaii, Life Foundation, the GLEA Foundation, and twenty-two individuals.

     Your Committees find that the Hawaii AIDS Clinical Research Program (HACRP) of the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine is comprised of the Hawaii AIDS Clinical Trials Unit the NeuroAIDS Specialized Neuroscience Research Program, several specialized laboratories, a multi-specialty HIV-1 clinic, and other supporting programs.  HACRP performs various functions with an emphasis on HIV- and AIDS-associated education, research, and service.  Funding for the Hawaii AIDS Clinical Trials Unit, which provides basic infrastructure for the HACRP, has largely been sustained through federal funding.  Recently, however, the National Institutes of Health has indicated that the HACRP will no longer be federally funded.  This loss of funding will result in a potential deficit of $21,000,000 in HIV-related grant funds.

     Your Committees believe that assistance from the State is necessary to provide financial support for basic infrastructure for HACRP to ensure that it will continue to be viable and productive in advancing HIV and AIDS education and research in the State. 

     Your Committees have amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive changes for purposes of clarity and style.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Education and Health that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 136, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 136, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Education and Health,

____________________________ DAVID Y. IGE, Chair

____________________________ NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair