STAND. COM. REP. NO.  386-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.B. No. 2118

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 2118 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TUBERCULOSIS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to improve treatment and care for tuberculosis patients by appropriating funds to support programs that:

     (1)  House tuberculosis patients and provide inpatient care to uninsured and underinsured tuberculosis patients;

     (2)  Provide coverage for secured housing for nonadherent tuberculosis patients and treatment of multidrug-resistant or other complicated cases of tuberculosis on a case-by-case basis; or

     (3)  Retrofit rooms in facilities for AFB (acid-fast bacillus smear, culture, and sensitivity) isolation or secured housing for nonadherent tuberculosis patients, or both, based on a demonstration of local needs and on standards developed by the department of health.

     The Department of Health (DOH) opposed this bill.  The Attorney General submitted comments.

     Upon further consideration, your Committee has amended this measure by clarifying that DOH is to fund operations that meet the objectives listed in the purpose paragraph. 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2118, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2118, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,

____________________________

JOSHUA B. GREEN, M.D., Chair