STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2225

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2394

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. 2394 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO INFLUENZA IMMUNIZATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

     (1)  Require annual influenza vaccinations for hospital health care workers whose work involves contact with patients or contaminated materials; and

     (2)  Establish exemptions for influenza vaccination requirements under certain conditions.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation; Hawai‘i State Center for Nursing; Hawaii Immunization Coalition; Healthcare Association of Hawaii; Hawaii Pacific Health; Chamber of Commerce Hawaii; Walgreen Co.; Ohana Pacific Management Company, Inc.; Wilcox Memorial Hospital; American Academy of Pediatrics; Straub Clinic & Hospital; Pali Momi Medical Center; Kapi‘olani Medical Specialists; and two individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the National Vaccine Information Center; Hawaii Nurses Association, OPEIU Local 50; and sixty-nine individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health and one individual.

     Your Committee finds that as influenza season is associated with high census in hospitals, it is critical for health care workers in hospitals who have contact with patients or contaminated materials to stay healthy.  Vaccination programs help health care personnel carry out their professional duty to provide care to all patients without causing harm through influenza transmission.

     Your Committee further finds that since 1981, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended that all health care workers receive an annual influenza vaccination.  Because health care professionals are looked to for guidance on good health practices, increasing the number of health care personnel in hospitals that receive the influenza vaccine sets a positive example that will encourage the community to proactively protect themselves from the flu.

     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. 2394 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