STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1142

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 163

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 163 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE LEGISLATIVE REFERENCE BUREAU TO CONDUCT A LITERATURE REVIEW OF THE HEALTH EFFECTS FROM LONG TERM EXPOSURE TO HAZARDOUS WASTE MATERIALS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to request the Legislative Reference Bureau to review the available literature on the health effects of long-term exposure to hazardous waste and submit a report of its findings to the Legislature.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by United Public Workers, AFSCME, Local 646, AFL-CIO and one concerned individual.  The Legislative Reference Bureau commented on this measure.

     Your Committee finds that refuse and wastewater workers that collect and treat hazardous waste over long periods of time are at risk for life-threatening health problems.  On a daily basis, these workers handle various types of chemical and biological wastes that carry risks of serious long-term illness.  Your Committee finds that measures should be taken to protect refuse and wastewater workers from the adverse health effects of long term exposure to hazardous waste.  Accordingly, your Committee believes that a review of best practices for protecting workers from the biological, chemical, and accidental hazards of long-term exposure to hazardous wastes will provide a starting point for improving safety and working conditions.

     Your Committee has amended this measure to focus the scope of the study on determining the best practices for protecting these workers from the health effects of long-term exposure to these wastes.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 163, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 163, S.D. 1.

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

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair