STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1335

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   S.B. No. 50

      S.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 50, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to provide funding to ensure that the basic infrastructure of the entire Hawaii AIDS clinical research program can remain viable and productive.

     Specifically, this bill appropriates unspecified amounts for fiscal year 2007-2008 and fiscal year 2008-2009 to the University of Hawaii for the Hawaii AIDS clinical research program.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this bill from Gregory House Programs, the Life Foundation, the AIDS Education Project of the Hawaii AIDS Education and Training Center, the Clint Spencer Clinic, the Shaken Baby Alliance, the nurses of the Hawaii Island HIV/AIDS Foundation, the Drug Policy Action Group, five individuals from the Hawaii AIDS Clinical Research Program, and fifteen individuals, including people living with HIV/AIDS and health care providers who treat HIV/AIDS patients.  The Interim Dean of the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine offered comments.

     Your Committee finds that the appropriation of funds in this bill will ensure that the Hawaii AIDS clinical research program can be maintained and be productive and, to that end, your Committee recommends that the amount of $1,200,000 in fiscal year 2007-2008 and fiscal year 2008-2009 be considered to replace the unspecified amounts in the appropriation for the sake of individuals in Hawaii with AIDS.

     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. 50, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading 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