STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2098

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2240

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 2240 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO REESTABLISH A VECTOR CONTROL BRANCH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to make an appropriation to the Department of Health to hire more vector control employees and reestablish a vector control branch.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health; Department of Defense; Hawaii Emergency Management Agency; Department of Emergency Management, City and County of Honolulu; Big Island Invasive Species Committee; Kauai Invasive Species Committee; Oahu Invasive Species Committee; Hawaii Farm Bureau; and nine individuals.

     Your Committee finds that vector control is necessary to control the spread of animals that have the potential to carry disease, from rodents to insects, including mosquitoes.  However, the Department of Health currently has no vector control branch, and its vector control unit suffered severe funding cuts several years ago.

     Your Committee further finds that the current outbreak of dengue fever and growing global concern over the spread of zika virus necessitate an appropriation to the Department of Health to hire more vector control employees and reestablish a vector control branch.  By fully reestablishing the vector control branch, the State will be able to more effectively manage virus outbreaks and other newly emerging public health threats.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2240 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health,

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ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair