STAND. COM. REP. NO.  788-16

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2016

RE:   H.B. No. 2356

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 2356, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO BIRTH DEFECTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to amend provisions relating to the use of collected information related to birth defects studies.

     Specifically, this measure:

(1)  Authorizes the Department of Health (DOH) to communicate with the primary care provider of a child identified with a birth defect, as a result of information collected pursuant to birth defect studies, to provide information about programs and resources that may help the child; and

(2)  Clarifies that an Institutional Review Board may exempt an activity using birth defects data.

DOH and the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Hawaii Section, testified in support of this measure.

     Your Committee recognizes that DOH's ability to communicate to primary care physicians regarding programs and resources available to children with birth defects is necessary to ensure that these children receive the appropriate support early in their lives to maximize their health and learning potential.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2356, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair