STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1530

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 155

       S.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 155, S.D. 1, entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE CONVENING OF A TASK FORCE TO ESTABLISH A STROKE SYSTEM OF CARE IN THE STATE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to support the development of a stroke care plan system in Hawaii.

     More specifically, the measure requests the:

(1)  Department of Health to convene a task force to establish a stroke system of care that includes a statewide stroke database and registry by December 31, 2015;

(2)  Task force to propose necessary legislation to support Hawaii's stroke care continuum; and

(3)  Task force to submit an initial report to the Legislature by December 31, 2013, and a final report no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2015, on the task force's actions and progress, including findings, recommendations, and any proposed legislation and funding levels, to establish a stroke system of care that includes the creation of a statewide stroke database and registry.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from Hawaii Pacific Health.

     Your Committee finds that strokes are the leading cause of chronic disability among adults in the State.  Accordingly, your Committee finds that a stroke system of care will improve the overall care of stroke patients, increase patients' chances of survival, and decrease the incidence of long-term disabilities associated with having a stroke.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 155, S.D. 1, and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair