STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2221

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2104

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 2104 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE ORGAN DONOR REGISTRY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to encourage and register more people to serve as organ donors and save lives of critically ill patients who need organ transplants.

     Specifically, this measure appropriates funds to establish a statewide organ donor registry.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Organ Donor Center of Hawaii; Hawaii Coalition on Donation; Case Management Professionals, Inc.; and one individual.  The Department of Health submitted testimony in support of the intent of this measure.

     Your Committee finds that the majority of states have already passed similar legislation to address the critical shortage of organs for transplantation.  Your Committee further finds that establishing an organ donor registry in Hawaii will centralize organ donation information, streamline the registration process, and help to save the lives of those in need of an organ donation.

     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 S.B. No. 2104 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair