STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2771

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 3185

       S.D. 2

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 3185, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CANCER,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to provide funds for cervical cancer and breast cancer screening, education, and outreach.

     Specifically, this measure would expand the Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Program under the Department of Human Services into the Breast and Cervical Cancer Comprehensive Cancer Control Program in cooperation with the Department of Health.  The program would provide screening, education, and outreach services without regard to a patient's eligibility for medicaid.  The expanded role of the program would require the Department of Health to:

(1)  Screen for breast and cervical cancer;

(2)  Provide education on breast and cervical cancer risks; and

(3)  Provide outreach for women who are at risk for breast and cervical cancer.

     Furthermore, the measure directs that $150,000 of the funds appropriated to the Department of Human Services for the breast and cervical cancer comprehensive cancer control program be directed to the Department of Health to provide funding for screening, education, and outreach services.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the American Cancer Society.  The Department of Health and the Department of Human Services submitted comments.

     Your Committee finds that measure will provide necessary and effective breast and cervical cancer screening, education, and outreach services for women who are not otherwise able to afford early detection services due to insurance status or financial barriers.

     Upon further consideration, your Committee has amended this measure as follows by:

(1)  Renaming the program the "Comprehensive Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program";

(2)  Clarifying the responsibilities of the Department of Health in supporting the breast and cervical cancer screening, education, and outreach process; and

(3)  Making technical nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3185, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3185, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair