STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3079
Honolulu, Hawaii
RE: H.B. No. 2320
H.D. 1
S.D. 1
Honorable Donna Mercado Kim
President of the Senate
Twenty-Seventh State Legislature
Regular Session of 2014
State of Hawaii
Madam:
Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 2320, H.D. 1, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose and intent of this measure is to:
(1) Establish health equity as a goal for the Department of Health; and
(2) Require the Department to consider social determinants of health, such as the social and physical environment, health services, and structural and societal factors, in assessing health needs in the State.
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Hawaii Primary Care Association, and Community Alliance for Mental Health.
Your Committee finds that determinants of health are created and influenced by various factors, including economic and social conditions. Your Committee further finds that factors such as income, education, housing, employment, and access to recreation and healthy foods must be addressed to achieve greater health equity in Hawaii. This measure is a first step toward a more unified and comprehensive approach to public health policy.
Your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2014; and
(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.
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 H.B. No. 2320, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2320, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,
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____________________________ JOSH GREEN, Chair |
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