STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2132

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2516

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Water, Land, and Agriculture and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 2516 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO RAT LUNGWORM DISEASE,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to the University of Hawaii at Hilo, Department of Health, and Department of Land and Natural Resources for programs, studies, and activities related to the prevention and eradication of rat lungworm disease.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Agriculture, Department of Health, Big Island Invasive Species Committee, University of Hawai‘i System, Hawaii Farmers Union United, Kua O Ka Lā, GMO Free Maui, Life of the Land, We Are One, Evening Rain Farm, Maui Venture Consulting LLC, Hawaii Island School Garden Network, Puna Community Medical Center, and one hundred thirty individuals.

     Your Committees find that the Department of Health has reported over seventy cases of rat lungworm disease since 2001.  The disease has claimed lives and caused crippling chronic disability to residents and visitors of Hawaii.  The Hawaii Island Rat Lungworm Disease Working Group at the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy at the University of Hawaii at Hilo has been conducting research and educational outreach on the disease for the past four years; however, there remains much more to learn about this devastating disease.  Your Committees therefore find it necessary to provide resources to assist in the prevention and eradication of rat lungworm disease.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water, Land, and Agriculture and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2516 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Water, Land, and Agriculture and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health,

________________________________ ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair