STAND. COM. REP. NO. 756

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 194

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 194 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require the Department of Health to accept the results of any tuberculosis test that is approved by the Food and Drug Administration and recommended by the Centers for Communicable Disease and Prevention for purposes of tuberculosis examination certificates.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from eleven individuals.

     Your Committee 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 further finds that other tests that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration exist with fewer risks of complication.  Your Committee notes that the Department of Health is in the process of updating its rules to support an expanded range of approved tuberculosis tests.

     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. 194 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

________________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair