STAND. COM. REP. NO. 391

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 224

       S.D. 1

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 224 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LUPUS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to create a statewide program to promote public and health professional education and awareness of lupus among public health and human services officials, physicians, nurses, and other health care providers in order to increase knowledge concerning the causes and consequences of lupus, the importance of early diagnosis and appropriate management, and effective treatment and management strategies.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Medical Association and three private citizens.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health.

     Your Committee finds that over ten thousand people in Hawaii are affected by lupus, and lupus disproportionately affects certain minority populations, a health disparity that remains unexplained.  Although recommendations have been made, no new drugs have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration specifically for lupus in fifty years.  Your Committee further finds that the creation of a statewide program dedicated to increasing the State's knowledge of lupus will not only benefit those currently living with lupus but also the population at large by increasing awareness and early diagnoses.  Your Committee heard testimony suggesting that the inclusion of organizations that are familiar with lupus would bring added value to the working group. 

     Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by adding Lupus Hawaii to the working group. 

     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 S.B. No. 224, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 224, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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

____________________________

JOSH GREEN, M.D., Chair