STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3667

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.C.R. No. 32

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health and Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 32, H.D. 1, entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE CONVENING OF A TASK FORCE TO EXAMINE CANCER IN THE FIREFIGHTING PROFESSION,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the convening of a task force to examine cancer in the firefighting profession.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Fire Fighters Association, Hawaii State Fire Council, Maui Fire Department, and four individuals.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Health and University of Hawai‘i System.

     Your Committees find that University of Cincinnati environmental health researchers have determined that firefighters are significantly more likely to develop various types of cancer than workers in other fields.  A firefighter's cancer diagnosis can have an enormous impact on a spouse, children, and other family members, including a heavy emotional toll, financial costs, and a decreased quality of life.  Your Committees further find that thirty-four states and nine Canadian provinces have enacted cancer presumptive statutes, which create a presumption that certain types of cancer diagnosed among firefighters result from their employment as firefighters.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

     (1)  Adding the Fire Chief from each county, or the Chief's designee, to the task force; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health and Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 32, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 32, H.D. 1, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health and Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs,

________________________________ CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair

________________________________ ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair