STAND. COM. REP. NO. 542

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 567

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Government Operations, to which was referred S.B. No. 567 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to:

     (1)  Makes clear that any person eighteen years of age or older to donate blood in any voluntary and noncompensatory blood program without the necessity of obtaining parental permission or authorization; and

     (2)  Allow any person who is sixteen years of age or older but who has not attained the age of eighteen to donate blood in a voluntary and noncompensatory blood program if the person obtains written permission from the person's parent or guardian.

     Your Committee finds that twenty-three states have passed legislation or adopted variances recognizing sixteen year olds as eligible voluntary blood donors with parental consent.  Your Committee further finds that allowing sixteen year olds to donate blood will increase the donor pool and increase the availability of blood supply to help others in need.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Government Operations that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 567 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary and Government Operations,

____________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair