STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1302

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 156

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.C.R. No. 156 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO ADOPT AND IMPLEMENT ADMINISTRATIVE RULES TO UPDATE STANDARDS OF VACCINATIONS FOR CHILDREN,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the Department of Health to adopt and implement administrative rules to update standards of vaccinations for children.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawaii and Hawai‘i Pacific Health.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health.

     Your Committee finds that immunizations are one of the most cost-effective public health interventions and a vital component of the human right to health care.  Your Committee further finds that it is important for the State to have consistent and publicized immunization standards to ensure that all children and families are informed about the most appropriate vaccinations that should be administered to promote optimum public health.

     Your Committee additionally finds that no updates to the State's vaccination standards have occurred despite the Legislature's passage of Act 231, Session Laws of Hawaii 2013, authorizing the Department of Health to adopt, amend, or repeal rules to establish a list of specified vaccines and the immunization recommendations of the United States Department of Health and Human Services Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.  Your Committee received testimony from the Department of Health indicating that the Department has been attempting to update the administrative rules related to vaccinations for the last ten years but has had difficulty securing stakeholder consensus and cooperation from outside agencies, as well as ensuring alignment with existing statutory requirements.  Your Committee recognizes the challenges faced by the Department but wants to continue all efforts possible to ensure the completion of the process to adopt and implement administrative rules under chapter 91, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to update the State's vaccination standards for children.

     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 concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 156 and recommends its adoption.

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

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ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair