STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2663

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2854

       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 Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2854, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE NEUROTRAUMA ADVISORY BOARD,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to change the composition of the Neurotrauma Advisory Board.

     Specifically, the measure:

(1)  Modifies the composition of the Neurotrauma Advisory Board by decreasing the total number of board members from twenty-one to at least eleven members;

(2)  Allows the Director of Health to appoint up to three state and county representatives whose work relates to neurotrauma to be ex officio, nonvoting members of the board; and

(3)  Removes from the board two members of the Spinal Cord Association and two representatives for persons with stroke, and adds to the board one member representing the American Stroke Association.

     This measure also clarifies the requirements of a quorum of the board and valid board actions.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the American Stroke Association.

     Your Committee finds that reducing the number of members on the Neurotrauma Advisory Board will improve its ability to attain quorum on a regular basis and enhance its ability to advise the Department of Health effectively.

     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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2854, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair