STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2508

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2826

       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 S.B. No. 2826, 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 provide pharmacists with immunity from liability while performing volunteer medical assistance services.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, The Queen's Health Systems, and one private individual.

     Your Committee finds that medically licensed volunteer workers who perform volunteer medical assistance services within the scope of their license are indemnified under state law when responding to an emergency and during non-emergency situations, such as school-based immunization clinics.  By indemnifying pharmacists who perform volunteer medical assistance services, this measure will assist in providing further medical coverage in emergency and non-emergency situations and provide a critical public health resource.

     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 S.B. No. 2826, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

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CLAYTON HEE, Chair