CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 2

Honolulu, Hawaii

                 , 2017

RE:    S.B. No. 194

       H.D. 2

       C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sirs:

     Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 194, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TUBERCULOSIS TESTING,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

     The purpose of this measure is to authorize the Department of Health and Department of Education to accept the results of any tuberculosis blood test approved by the Food and Drug Administration and recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for purposes of a certificate of tuberculosis examination and clearance to attend public school.

     Your Committee on Conference finds that tuberculosis testing is a requirement for many people in the State, including children entering school, school personnel, personnel working with high risk populations, and students enrolling in higher education programs.  The skin reaction tuberculosis test currently used by the Department of Health requires two visits to the doctor or medical practitioner administering the test, and can cause complications in some patients.  Your Committee on Conference further finds that other tests that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration and recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention exist with fewer risks of complication.

     Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Clarifying that its intent is to not change current requirements or procedures regarding the use of chest x-rays; and

     (2)  Changing the effective date to upon its approval.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 194, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 194, H.D. 2, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ DELLA AU BELATTI Co-Chair	____________________________ MICHELLE N. KIDANI Chair
____________________________ MARK J. HASHEM Co-Chair	____________________________ ROSALYN H. BAKER Co-Chair