STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2564

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2229

       S.D. 2

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which was referred S.B. No. 2229, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO VACCINATIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to allow pharmacists to administer the influenza vaccine to persons between the ages of fourteen and seventeen under certain conditions.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Association of Health Plans, Safeway, Times Supermarkets, and Walgreens.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Board of Pharmacy.

     Your Committee finds that allowing pharmacists to administer vaccinations is a low-cost and convenient way to meet an important public health need.  This measure will increase minors' access to the influenza vaccine and promote public safety.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Specifying that pharmacists who administer the influenza vaccine to persons between the ages of fourteen and seventeen shall complete a training program approved by the Accreditation Council of Pharmacy Education and submit the completion certificate for the training program to the Board of Pharmacy prior to administering the influenza vaccine to persons between the ages of fourteen and seventeen years;

     (2)  Removing the provision that would have required only those pharmacists who administer the influenza vaccine to persons between the ages of fourteen and seventeen to renew a license every four years, as this provision conflicts with biennial renewal requirements;

     (3)  Clarifying that upon the failure of a licensee or permit holder to comply with any provision, not just training or reporting requirements, of the new section of chapter 461, Hawaii Revised Statutes, established by this measure, the Board of Pharmacy may deny, revoke, or suspend the license or permit and fine or discipline the licensee or permit holder; and

     (4)  Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     Your Committee notes that this measure, as amended, aligns training requirements for influenza vaccinations with current pharmacist training and continuing education requirements.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2229, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2229, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection,

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair