STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3319

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 2564

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred H.B. No. 2564, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO VOLUNTEER MEDICAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to add pharmacists to the list of volunteer medical assistance personnel and volunteer emergency medical disaster response personnel who shall be exempt from liability while providing volunteer medical assistance or emergency response services.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from one private individual.

     Your Committee finds that the lack of professional liability protections may result in valuable medical personnel not participating as state volunteers, thereby limiting the ability of the State to draw upon the skills of such individuals as a critical public health resource in emergency and non-emergency situations.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Labor that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2564, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary and Labor,

____________________________

CLAYTON HEE, Chair