STAND. COM. REP. NO. 709

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 50

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, 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 measure is to appropriate funds to guarantee the viability of the Hawaii AIDS clinical research program.

     Your Committee received comments in support of this measure from two professors from the University of Hawaii at Manoa John A. Burns School of Medicine, the Life Foundation, the Maui AIDS Foundation, Hawaii Island HIV/AIDS Foundation, and two private citizens.  The vice-president for Research and Graduate Education at the University of Hawaii at Manoa John A. Burns School of Medicine submitted comments.

     Your Committee finds that the Hawaii clinical trials unit, as a part of the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine, is a vital element in Hawaii's fight against HIV and AIDS.  The unit ensures that Hawaii's unique ethnic groups are properly represented in national multi-state HIV and AIDS trials, provides necessary and essential care for the geographically removed people of Hawaii, and obtains funding for its vital projects.  However, the National Institute of Health has given notice to the unit that it will no longer receive federal funds.

     Your Committee finds that the continued existence of the Hawaii AIDS clinical trials unit is of utmost importance and if it would cease to exist, the fight against HIV and AIDS would be seriously compromised.  Your Committee further finds that appropriating funds to the unit ensures that it can be maintained and be productive.

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

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

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair