STAND. COM. REP. NO.  79-12

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2012

RE:   H.B. No. 1952

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 1952 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO BONE MARROW TRANSPLANTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds, subject to a dollar-for-dollar match in private funds, for Hawaii Pacific Health to establish a bone marrow transplant program in Hawaii.

The Healthcare Association of Hawaii, American Cancer Society, and two individuals testified in support of this measure.  Hawaii Pacific Health and a concerned individual submitted comments on this measure.

     Your Committee notes that the loss of Hawaii's only bone marrow transplant center has resulted in patients having to seek treatment in other states, causing great financial and emotional burdens on patients and their families.

     Upon consideration, your Committee has amended this measure by decreasing the amount of the appropriation from $1,000,000, to $500,000 for fiscal year 2012-2013, while retaining the dollar-for-dollar private matching fund provision.

     Your Committee has also made technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity and accuracy.

     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 H.B. No. 1952, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1952, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair