STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2502

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2885

       S.D. 1

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. 2885 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize the use of birth defects data for education of health care providers to reduce morbidity or mortality and to increase physicians' knowledge of resources available for families of persons with birth defects.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health; American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Hawaii Section; and one individual.

     Your Committee finds that current state law prohibits the Department of Health from using the information collected on birth defects through its birth defects program for purposes other than advancing medical and public health research, medical education, or public education; provided that approval is given by an institutional review board.  This measure will improve health care services in the State through the facilitation of data collection and aid in research, while better assisting primary care physicians in serving high-needs children and their families.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     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. 2885, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2885, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

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

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ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair